Claines played host to a joyful family ‘Light Trail’ during the half term holiday, which ninety people participated in. Ten households in Claines decorated their homes as “light stops,” each displaying a word that formed part of a Bible verse, for participants to unscramble.
Parishes across the Diocese working with Kirsty Pierson from iSingPOP this year, have reported how much this support has helped them reach new families and children. Following this the pilot has been extended to see how this initial success can be further embedded and built on.
In January 2026 Claines Church, will be launching a new and exciting church service for children called ‘Bubble Church’. This has been made possible thanks to a grant from the ‘Healthier Churches Fund’.
Former primary school teacher Emily Holmes has recently joined St Peter’s Bengeworth in Evesham as ‘Children and Families Worker’. Emily is keen to bring more families into church and has a real heart for creating neurodiverse-friendly spaces where all children feel safe and valued.
Red Hill CE Primary and St Martin’s Church, London Road, Worcester have received a silver Church and School Partnership Award. It was presented to them by Archdeacon Mark and Diocesan Director of Education, Tim Reid in a special service in the church.
St Catherine’s CE school and St Barnabas Church in Kidderminster have achieved a silver Church and School Partnership Award. Accompanied by representatives from the church, school and Diocese, Bishop Martin and Archdeacon Mark Badger, attended a special school assembly to present this joint award.
Former CE primary school teacher Louise Hicklin recently started as Children and Families’ Worker at St John the Baptist Church in Halesowen. Thanks to this appointment and the installation of new toilets, St John’s Church have been able to launch their first Messy Church.
Children from Wyre Forest West Churches have enjoyed a summer activity day on the theme of Kingdom Builders (based on the Roots Kingdom Builders Holiday Club resource).
ITV Central News visited All Saints Worcester's 6pm service on Sunday 17th August to interview young members of the congregation and Rev Rich Johnson about 'The Quiet Revival', that is the research data that shows that more young adults are coming to church!
In this short film Paul Wilcox from West Worcester Beacon Benefice shares how their three New Worshipping Communities have led to the growth of their main congregation at Hallow.
Church run charity Community Link on Cradley Heath high street run a Uniform Bank in the school summer holidays where they give out second-hand school uniform for free. The charity report hundreds of families now use the service.
Children, Young People and Families Minister Debra Hill and her volunteers have engaged new families through 'Story Time with the classics' at Whittington Church in the school summer holidays.
During the first week of August, Kingswinford parish hosted an exciting iSingPOP holiday club at St Mary’s Church featuring iSingPops catchy worship tunes and dance moves. The club proved hugely popular, with attendance peaking at 53 children.
Back in May, St John’s church in Halesowen which is one of our Renewal projects, launched a post GCSE exam chill-out space for year 11s nicknamed 'Donut Club' which was really popular. They're now building on that success by offering a Bibles and Brunch session to the same group.
Many of the members of our diocesan network of paid Children, Families and Youth workers have plans to engage families this summer through holiday clubs and other activities.
As we continue on our seven-year journey of transformation to ensure our churches are growing healthier and more sustainable, real progress is being made in our Transformation programme priority areas. Churches across the Diocese are starting to see the green shoots of growth.
Over 600 children from 19 local primary schools plus 100 volunteers joined forces at Malvern Priory during the week of Lifepath to celebrate the lives of the Benedictine monks who founded the church almost 1000 years ago.
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11 children from the Church of the Ascension CE Primary School in Wall Heath, Dudley have achieved the Archbishops’ Young Leaders Award. The children were presented with their certificates by Bishop Martin at a special collective worship in school.
On Tuesday, Sian Morgan, Children, Youth and Families Minister in Kingswinford and Wall Heath, went to represent the Diocese at an afternoon tea at Lambeth Palace.
‘Sparkle Tots’ is church for pre-schoolers and their parents or carers. It takes place at St Nicholas Church in Droitwich on Mondays during term time.
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13th November 2025