Worship
Children and young people
Children and young people are essential members of our inclusive, all-age community at Old Saint Paul's. They are welcome at all our services. We offer children's activities during our Sunday morning service, High Mass.
During Communion, we encourage children to go up to the altar, with their accompanying adult to receive a blessing or the sacrament.
During High Mass
As we gather for High Mass on Sunday morning, young children often explore areas of the Nave and Lady Chapel. It's important that children feel comfortable and welcome.
As they grow older, children can become part of the serving team or the readers’ team.
Between the Kyrie Eleison and Communion parts of our service, we invite children to join the crèche or Sunday school, or to stay in the Nave with their accompanying adult. There is a children’s corner for under fives at the back of the Lady Chapel.
Crèche
The crèche offers a safe and fun place for play, artwork, puzzles and stories.
Sunday school
The Sunday school offers helps children encounter the Christian faith through stories, prayer, artwork and discussion.
A key element of the Sunday school programme is Godly Play, a type of storytelling in the Montessori tradition. This reflects our ethos and theology by being experiential and inclusive. As part of this, children create their own artwork in response to the day’s story.
For upcoming Sunday school and children’s activities please see the Events page. The Sunday school meets during term time.
You can find out about facilities for babies and young children on our Accessibility page.
Special services
Beyond Old Saint Paul’s
We work with Godly Play Scotland to promote their approach to children's faith exploration more widely. Godly Play Scotland supports us with information, training, new stories and materials. We are also involved in youth and children’s work in the Diocese of Edinburgh.
Safeguarding
We take children and young people's safety and well-being very seriously. All adults working closely with children and young people go through a safeguarding process which includes Protection of Vulnerable Group (PVG) checks, following our safeguarding policy. This policy also applies to vulnerable adults.
Contact us
To receive regular updates about all Old Saint Paul's activities and events for children and young people, please get in touch using the email below. If you prefer, you can also contact the office using the main office phone number at the foot of the page.