-
26 February 2024
CBeebies presenter to lead pirate services
CBeebies presenter Gemma Hunt will lead two pirate-themed services at St John’s Church, Locks Heath, ... read more
-
21 February 2024
‘Bubble Church’ is godsend for families
A new service for families who have babies or toddlers has been launched at St ... read more
-
26 September 2023
Children’s Week celebrates 50th anniversary
Around 70 children from Soberton, Newtown and beyond enjoyed Children’s Week, based at Soberton Village ... read more
Children’s Week celebrates 50th anniversary
IT has happened every summer for the past 50 years – and it shows no signs of slowing down.
Children’s Week brought together around 70 children from the villages of Soberton and Newtown for five days of games, songs, activities, craft and learning about God. The week is organised by St Peter's Church, Soberton, and Holy Trinity Church, Newtown.
The activities were centred on Soberton village recreation ground, but also involved raft-racing and a picnic on the River Meon and a final celebration in Holy Trinity Church, Newtown, on the Friday evening.
And it was fitting that the person who initially launched this annual event, the Rev Roger Moseley, was there on that Friday evening to help mark five decades of fun-filled Children’s Weeks.
One of the organisers, Gill Gray, said: “For five days the children of Soberton and Newtown – and a few from further afield including, we’re delighted to say, from Ukraine – had a fun and varied week they will never forget.
“On Friday, the children, parents, grandparents were invited to Holy Trinity, Newtown to celebrate the week and to proudly show off and share all they have achieved.
“The models were displayed in the churchyard and the children walked into church with their adult and teenage helpers, their heads held high. Each group did a brief presentation, we sang, we prayed, we thanked key people and helpers and, most of all, we thanked the children themselves who had all been amazing.
“The vicar when this started was the Rev Roger Moseley, and he was able to join us on the Friday evening at Holy Trinity! Clearly moved by the energy and longevity of his idea 50 years ago, he shared with the congregation his thoughts and his delight at being with us.
“The three cheers for him and his fabulous idea and efforts literally raised the roof. Our thanks, Roger – your inspiration has touched many children’s lives and continues to do so.”
This year’s Children’s Week involved the children being split into groups named after games, from Super Mario to Minecraft to Hungry Hippos.
On Monday, they got to know each other, learned Children’s Week songs, enjoyed some old-fashioned games and started to make models and flags reflecting the names of their groups. Once they were, finished these models were positioned around the villages until the end of the school holidays.
On Tuesday, they went down to the River Meon in beautiful sunshine. They made rafts and we raced them, and had a picnic. In the afternoon, they enjoyed tie-dye and cooking.
Wednesday was the actual celebration day, marking 50 years. It involved circus skills, story tellers, dance mats, pottery painting, inflatable obstacle course and inflatable football. Everyone had a go – even the adults.
On Thursday, everyone went as invited guests to the private garden at nearby Meonwood. The children took part in a trail celebrating water, air, earth and fire. This included cooking sausages on an open fire, and decorating a group cake and eating it without cutlery.
And Friday was a day to complete models, practise for the evening and to play an ice cream game, a chocolate game, and water games. And then the great celebration in Holy Trinity, Newtown, took place that evening.