In October 2024, the benefice of Cotham Parish Church and St Paul’s, Clifton, launched ‘Earthy foundations’, a weekly gathering for families with babies and small children. The group focuses on faith formation, while also seeking to invest in the spiritual engagement of the whole family.
When the group first launched, its members were occasional visitors from their monthly Early Foundations group but, overtime, the gathering has gradually grown into a small community. Early January 2025 was a particular point of growth where newcomers from outside the church community began to attend.
Earthy Foundations is supported by a wonderful team of 7 volunteers from across the various congregations in the benefice. With a wide range of backgrounds in different fields, each volunteer brings their unique gifts and expertise. The team meet three times a year to celebrate the time and commitment they give and to theologically reflect together.
The group is rooted in love of Jesus and is a place where young children and their carers can come for a time to relax in a safe and enabling environment. This has been created by the church space, the activities and routines.
Sessions begin each week at 10am and start with free-flow activities, which enables people to arrive at their own time and pace. The activities are focused on “learning areas” which include mark-making, small world, arts and crafts, puzzles and role-play.
Around 10:20am, everyone is invited to take part in circle time – they light a candle, sing a song say a welcoming action prayer, and read a story together. Stories have focused on a range of themes from colours to numbers to animals and trains.
After circle time, the children have the option of going outside together to explore the garden and to play with the new and exciting mud kitchen! Everything is done through play, with the aim that the children (and carers) learn naturally and in a fun way.
The focus is always on love, value, community and faith. Modelling their practices on the Early Years Curriculum, they aspire to put the people at the heart of what they do, and to follow their lead.
The group has received positive feedback from many of the families who attend, with one parent saying:
“I feel so welcome and look forward to coming and seeing everyone”
Last year, during the summer holidays, the Earthy Foundations community came together with the church pastoral group “Time Out Tea” to host an “Animal Day” in church. It took place towards the end of the school summer holidays and welcomed over a 100 people. For a number in the local community, it was their first time in the church building. One of the greatest attractions of the visit was a “Meet and Greet” with the animals from Noah’s Ark Zoo’s outreach team. The group also enjoyed refreshments together and engaged in a whole range of animal-themed craft activities.