Children

At St. Columba’s, we recognise that children are already in relationship with God who loves them deeply, always has and always will.  And so we seek to nurture that relationship. We understand that questions are often more important than answers, and we encourage our youth to wrestle with those questions in a safe, caring environment, acknowledging, in Paul Tillich’s words, that “doubt isn’t the opposite of faith; it is an element of faith.”

Over the years our Sunday morning programme for children has become known affectionately as “Underchurch” – it takes place in our hall which is underneath our church.  A small group of dedicated teachers and teaching assistants lead in story-telling, crafts, singing, and age-appropriate conversation about all manner of things!  Children return to church in time for communion with the whole St. Columba’s community gathered.  And once or twice a year, there is a special Children’s Eucharist in the Underchurch.

In all that we do, we follow the the Scottish Episcopal Church’s guidelines for Safeguarding.