Integrational church


a shrinking number of children leaving church for part of the service? (And often not returning when they get ‘too old’ for Sunday School.)


Some years ago I read an article about intergenerational worship. The essence was that when children are young and receptive we keep them away from worship, then when they move beyond the age of openness we ask them to participate in an alien rite. Is it surprising they vote with their feet?


This set me on a journey to rediscover something those of long ago knew, that church was for everyone, and the common life of the church involved all the baptised. In essence, we should all be learning to worship and witness together.


“When I was a little girl we went to church as a family. My Father sat at the end of the pew and we were VERY well behaved - my father had a big belt!”


These are amongst the reminiscences of my grandmother in rural Cumberland in the early years of the last century. She also has some positive memories of church I’m glad to say! Others have memories of Sunday Schools which now, in many parts of the rural church, are struggling to survive.


Is there anything in between children being kept in order and


In a few weeks one of my churches will embark on its second intergenerational confirmation class, comprising both young teenagers and several 30 somethings. When we first tried this it was with trepidation and meagre faith. We wondered if the youngsters would be able to cope, or the adults would find it demeaning or too easy. The reality was that the youngsters knew more about Christian faith than the adults and surprisingly everyone enjoyed themselves making for a joyous Confirmation service.


We also admit children to communion before confirmation. This has been vital in rediscovering the church as the communion of all the baptized, and of course re-emphasising the significance of baptism. How can the table of the Lord be his if not all his people are welcome to sit and eat?


Some who read this will no doubt find echoes of Orthodox practice


here: everyone joining in everything. My experience of sharing enthusiasm for intergenerational church has often foundered on questions of whether existing worship was child-friendly. The Orthodox experience is ‘that with which we grow up we learn’. We have found that children with appropriate help and


engagement, can participate fully even in quite formal worship, if we start young and don’t require them to leave for Sunday School.


We live in a society which is resource-rich yet relationship- poor. Our rural churches may lack what seem to be essentials such as volunteers to provide Sunday School. Could we allow that lack to make us engage seriously with what it means to be a Church for all ages? Often in our villages we lack the divisions that exist between the generations in urban areas and many adults and children still freely associate. Perhaps in our rural churches we can show a better way forward for church and society. 


Revd Eric Kyte, Vicar in a rural part of Bradford Diocese Member of the CPAS Intergenerational Church Forum


www.arthurrankcentre.org.uk


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rural ministry


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