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Safeguarding 

Promoting a Safer Church

As a parish / church we have adopted the House of Bishops ‘Promoting a Safer Church’ policy and the Parish Safeguarding Handbook (click here), incorporating the House of Bishop’s Safeguarding Policy and Practice Guidance. 
 
Our PCC has formally adopted this and signed the Safeguarding Policy Statement Promoting a Safer Church (click here), and produced an updated Parish safeguarding poster (click here)
 
Details of our parish safeguarding officer can be found in our ‘Safeguarding in our Parish – who’s who (click here).
 
All those working with children and adults at risk have undergone safer recruitment, received safeguarding training and support.

Reporting a concern

Any safeguarding concerns in a parish should be brought to the attention of your local Parish Safeguarding Officer(s) (PSO) in the first instance, who can seek further advice from Catherine Smith, the Diocesan Safeguarding Adviser (DSA), as necessary. Safeguarding concerns in a school/university/prison/healthcare setting should be raised with the relevant organisation's Safeguarding team. If the concern involves one of our chaplains, please also contact Catherine Smith direct. 

Catherine's contact details are:
Telephone: 01254 503070
Mobile: 07711 485170
Email: catherine.smith@blackburn.anglican.org
Address: Diocesan Offices, Clayton House, Walker Office Park, Blackburn, BB1 2QE

Links to the Diocesan Safeguarding Team can be found here:

Finding Support

We understand reporting abuse may be very difficult and that not everyone may want to contact the Diocesan Safeguarding Team. Below is a list of other agencies that are available to assist either on a 24-hour basis or through specialist helplines and services:
  • NSPCC Child Protection Helpline: 0808 800 5000 (lines free & open 24 hours). Phone if you are worried about a child.
  • Child-line: 0800 1111 (lines free and open 24 hours). Phone if you are a child or young person and are worried about anything.
  • National Domestic Violence Helpline: 0808 2000 247 (lines free & open 24 hours). Phone if you are experiencing domestic abuse.
  • Samaritans Helpline: 116 123 (open 24 hours). Phone if you feel you are struggling to cope and need someone to talk to.
  • Action on Elder Abuse Helpline: 080 8808 8141 (free phone Monday to Friday 9-5pm).

 

Glenys
Hello and welcome to our church. If you are a new visitor, we have a page for you to get to know us and learn more about planning a visit.
Click here to see more.

Planning your Visit

A Warm Hello 

The following information is specifically for those planning a visit, so that you know, beforehand, what to expect on a Sunday morning.

Where and When

We meet in each of our Church Buildings (details here) for our Sunday Service starting at 9:30am at St John's and 11am at Clayton Brook. For your first visit, we recommend arriving 10-15 minutes early to ensure you get a parking space and find somewhere to sit before the service begins. When you arrive, you should be greeted by someone on our Welcome Team.

Accessibility: There is full wheelchair access to all areas downstairs at Clayton Brook, and a fully accessible toilet; at St John's we have wheelchair access into the building, but our seating (pews) means the space available for wheelchairs during the service is a little limited - please ask our welcome team for assistance if you require it. There is also a a sound loop at St John's for anyone who needs it. Please let one of the Welcome Team know on your arrival and they will help you to get set up. Unfortunately, the toilet at St John's is down some steps.

Our Service

The main service begins with a warm welcome from one of our team members. Then follows a time of sung worship, led by our band. We typically have 2 or 3 songs lasting approximately 20 minutes. Sometimes a person might pray out loud or read a small passage from the bible. Sometimes people share things that they believe God is saying to the whole church family. This might seem strange the first time you hear it but it’s all part of our connecting with God. We then share news and notices, usually about what’s going on in the life of the church. One of our leaders will then give a sermon that is bible based and that we can apply to our everyday life. We then finish with a final worship song. Sometimes there is an opportunity to receive prayer at the end of the service.

images: Services

What about my kids?

We have a great programme lined up for kids of all ages:

  • Creche (0 months to 3 years). Children must be accompanied by their parent/grown-up at all times.
  • Bubbles (3-7 years)
  • Junior Church(7-11 years)
  • Pathfinders (11-15 years)

Children stay with their parent or grown-up at the start of the service. We really value worshipping God all together as a family. Someone will announce when it’s time for the younger members to go to their various groups. 

The kids group activities vary depending on the age but usually there is a friendly welcome, bible stories, testimonies, praying, music, craft, drama, fun games and free play. Children are brought back into church towards the end of the service.

Children

Getting Connected


Growth Groups

While Sundays are a great way to meet new people, it is often in smaller gatherings that you can really get to know someone. Being part of one of our small groups allows you to make new friends, share together and support each other. We have a variety of groups that meet throughout the week, some afternoons and some evenings. Check out Growth Groups and see if there’s one that you could join, or we can put you in touch with a small group leader who will be more than happy to invite you along to their group.

Serving and Volunteering

If you want to get involved in the life of the church and help us make Sundays run smoothly, you can sign up to serve on a team. 

Other Ministries

We also run the following ministries:

  • Men's Ministries
  • Women's Ministries
  • Children and Youth Ministries
Get in touch with us to plan your visit
If you would like to come and visit the church beforehand you are more than welcome! Get in touch and we can arrange a time that suits you.
 
Name:
Telephone:
Email Address:
Comments / Questions or anything you would like to say?

Next, we will contact you by email to say hello and help arrange anything necessary for your visit.
 

Leadership 

No Photo icon   No Photo icon
Leader 1   Leader 2
Leader Intro   Leader Intro
 
We hope that whoever you are, you will feel at home at our church.

Best Wishes

(Handwritten Signature)