Youth - Schools
We believe that our children are our future, and for that reason the Wye Benefice has from its outset attempted to reach young people of every age. Members of the clergy make regular visits to all the schools within our Benefice on a basis that is best suited to each place. Weekly, fortnightly and monthly in some cases, Brook School, Lady Joanna Thornhill School (Wye Primary), Spring Grove School, Bodsham School and Petham School all are visited regularly, and assemblies often arranged to deal with issues that arise that the Headteachers put to us.
The school connection often leads to Church visits, and Brook School, the Lady Joanna and Spring Grove Schools all hold their Christmas, Harvest and Leavers services in the church; and in reverse the Sunday service at the top of the hill on the second Sunday of the month takes place in Bodsham School and is always well attended. The annual Harvest and end of term at Christmas services for Bodsham School are held at St Mary the Virgin, Hastingleigh and the end of term at Easter and the end of summer term Leavers services for Bodsham School are held at St James the Great, Elmsted.
For over 10 years a holiday club originally known as “Secret Agents” has been held in Wye at the end of the school term, supported and run by volunteer parents from the church. This led to an extra meeting one day near Christmas time for the youngsters to work on projects in the church.
As our numbers grow, the Sunday Club activities in Wye continue to expand, and the Monthly Family service on the fourth Sunday of the month continues to attract young families to a less formal style of worship.