Parents of young children in Peasedown St John are being offered a little sanctuary, thanks to one local church providing a weekly cafe style space to use.
The parents will be given the opportunity to chat, drink coffee, eat cake, pray and enjoy some quiet time.
Katie Chapman is the church’s new children’s worker responsible for pre-school work within the church.
She said: “Everyone needs a little peace now and then, but when you are a parent that can be hard, going out for a coffee isn’t always relaxing with little children in tow, and staying home can feel isolating.
“Sanctuary aims to offer a space for you to be yourself again, you can read a book, bring your knitting or have a chat, while your children can enjoy treasure baskets and stories being read and explored in the children’s area.”
Located within the church building, the new children’s sanctuary looks rather like a little sheep pen or a garden, with a large story tree and a beautiful handcrafted fence and gate way crafted by natural wood worker Vince Smith.
“Vince has created a feeling of being outside with his design of wooden fencing and branches pieced together from loose wood”, said the church’s community pastor Sally Taylor.
“Even though we are inside, the Sanctuary has a strong feeling of the outside world and the beauty of God’s creation.”
The Sanctuary is in addition to other projects and activities being led by St John’s Church, which include the Monday morning Toy Library and Friday’s Little Lights Toddler group run by Emily Marquez-Vega – who is responsible for the church’s outreach work to pre-schoolers.
The Sanctuary is open every Thursday morning during term-time from 9.30 am – 12 noon at St John’s Church, Church Road. All parents are welcome to drop in. There is storytelling and play opportunities for children too.
St John’s Church is part of the ‘St J’s Group’ Anglican benefice, which covers the parish churches of St John’s Peasedown, St Julian’s Wellow, St James’ Foxcote and St Julian’s Shoscombe and is named after their three patron saints.
