Developing seven new services and activities for children and young people

St Mary’s Church, Iffley has been awarded £76,732 from the diocesan Development Fund to employ a Children and Families Worker who will significantly expand discipleship pathways for children and families across the parish of Iffley, including Iffley, Rose Hill, and Donnington. 

The five-year project will introduce seven new services and activities for children and families. It builds on the strong growth already happening through the parish’s Messy Church, Sunday children’s group (the Fish and Chip Club), and youth group. Over the past 18 months these new initiatives have been used by around 25 children and 20 adults. A wonderful group of 18 volunteers have made it all possible. 

Children with masks on at Messy Church

 

Revd Clare Hayns, Vicar of St Mary’s Church, said:

“We believe God is calling us to grow our ministry among children and families in this part of Oxford and we are hopeful that through these new initiatives we will nurture faith, build lasting relationships, and strengthen connections across our communities, investing in the next generation with confidence and hope for the future.  

“We are grateful to have received a grant to help us develop and deepen our engagement with children and their families. We have made a start but we needed some help to move forward with our plans, and this is hugely encouraging.” 

Once a Children and Families Worker is appointed the parish will launch a range of even more new initiatives, including a weekly parent-and-toddler group, seasonal outreach events, school engagement programmes such as Prayer Spaces and Experience Easter, nurture and discussion groups for families, a Year 6–7 transition group, and regular all-age services. These initiatives will complement and expand the existing activities. 

Alongside new activities, the project will prioritise training and developing volunteers from both the congregation and the wider community, helping make sure that children’s and families’ ministry can continue long term. Neighbouring parishes, including Littlemore and Cowley, will be invited to participate in some of the activities, creating space for collaboration and wider community engagement. 

The award forms part of a wider December 2025 funding round in which 11 grants were made to churches across the diocese, totalling £299,047. Of this, £241,147 was awarded to six projects supporting ministry among children and young people. Since its inception, the Development Fund of the Diocese of Oxford has distributed more than £5.5 million to support mission and ministry across the region. 

By expanding opportunities for worship, discipleship, and community engagement, St Mary’s aims to help more children, young people, and families explore faith, grow in discipleship, and become active participants in the life of the church and the wider community. 

The full list of awards are as follows: 

• St Peter’s, Loudwater to employ a worship and young adults pastor to establish and help lead a young adults congregation and foster engagement, discipleship and leadership among young people.
• Didcot Ladygrove to grow support for families and provide increased capacity for mission in schools and our rapidly expanding parish by employing a children and families worker.
• Iffley Parish to expand significantly the discipleship pathways for children and families in the parish by employing a children and families worker.
• Penn Street & Holmer Green to engage with more children, young people and families by employing a children and youth outreach worker.
• East Hendred to grow the number of young disciples in the church by developing and promoting our newly restarted Children’s Church.
• St John the Evangelist, Woodley to grow connections and disciple young people by employing a part-time youth minister.
• Hambledon Frieth to form detailed plans for installing a kitchen/WC extension in the church.
• St Mary Magdalene, Marlston to erect a noticeboard at St Mary Marlston Church entrance to make our work better known in the parish.
• Church of The Holy Rood, Sparsholt to conduct a feasibility study to develop plans that prioritise how best our reordered Church will serve the local community.
• St Mary Magdalen, Stoke Talmage to support opportunities to build connections with the community by installing water, drainage, WC and kitchen.
• St Catherine’s, Bearwood to obtain a comprehensive survey of the church and environs in order to develop level access, accessible WC and a kitchenette to support outreach and hospitality.