St. Andrew's with Castle Gate United Reformed Church
After being with the rest of the congregation for the start of Sunday morning worship the children and young people go through to the halls for their own Junior Church groups. There are groups for children as young as three years old right up to eighteen.
The Primary and Beginners Department is for three to six year olds.
The Junior Department is for seven to ten year olds.
The Seniors is for eleven to thirteen year olds.
The Youth Group is for young people of 14 years and over.
Junior Church Camp
Children in the Primary and Beginners meet in the Small Hall. They listen to bible stories and sing together. They enjoy accompanying themselves using the Junior Church percussion instruments! They also draw, paint, cook and make things to take home from time to time. One of the special things they enjoy is when a baby who has just been baptised is brought through to meet them. They sing to the baby and present him or her with a book. Mum is not forgotten as she is given some flowers. The Juniors meet in the Upper Hall. They share bible stories and discussion and also respond through drama and dance. The Seniors and Youth Group discuss a wide range of religious and spiritual matters - sometimes over coffee - and consider how these relate to daily life.
At the end of the morning the Youth Group and older children from the Junior Church provide coffee for members of the congregation after the service has ended. The Youth Group also organises congregational lunches for the church from time to time. Money raised from donations given for the coffee and at the Congregational Lunches helps raise funds for a variety of charities.
Members of the Youth Group participate in Synod youth Events including Youth Weekends (MMM) and some have
attended invitation events at Yardley Hastings and at Edale.
Operation Noah event
An important project that our Junior Church and Youth Group have been involved with is Operation Noah.
This event, aimed at raising awareness of green/environmental issues in faith communities involved not only our young people,
but also those from local Jewish and Muslim communities. There were activities at church, the synagogue, environmental work
outside and the display that we produced was displayed at each of the places of worship, at the Council House
and at Coventry Cathedral.
Click here to see a slideshow of our
Operation Noah event.
Over the last few years, the Junior Church musical has become a popular annual event.
Productions have included a "Good Old Days" show and productions of Oliver!, Calamity Jane, the
Wizard of Oz and Summer Holiday.
Cast: Calamity Jane
Click here to see a slideshow of the
Good Old Days concert or here to view our "Oliver!" FLASH movie.
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