There's lots going on in Leesfield Parish for young people, just take a look at the information below.
St Thomas' Sunday School is returning from Sunday 12th September at its usual time. St Agnes' Sunday School will take a little longer, but we'll update on progress and about our uniformed organisations in due course. Please keep an eye on our facebook pages for the latest information.
St Thomas' Sunday School
Please come along and join us at St. Thomas’ Leesfield Sunday School. We are a friendly bunch who welcome all children from birth to Year 6. We have an amazing and dedicated team of Sunday School helpers who are happy to get stuck in and encourage the children in their learning. There are songs, stories, crafts, quizzes, games and activities which we start in the school hall immediately after the first hymn in church. Sunday School lasts for about 40 – 50 minutes then we return to church to take Communion and be blessed and join the congregation singing the final hymn. A normal Church service usually finishes about 12.15am.
The older children enjoy reading during a service and at an all age service the younger ones are also encouraged to take part, including singing and leading prayers.
We enjoy special events together such as Whit Walk, Sunday School Nativity on Christmas Eve, Easter Egg Hunt and our Parish Sponsored Walk.
Children should be signed in using the book at the back of church at 10.55am to ensure an orderly start to the service at 11am. Signing in your child is very important for Health & Safety reasons, so that we know who is here in case of a fire and so that we have a record of your child’s attendance for your future reference.
Please note that the admissions criteria for the local C of E Primary and Secondary schools include parental attendance at Church in addition to children’s attendance at Sunday School.
You can find out more about our Sunday School and contact them by following their facebook page St Thomas Leesfield Sunday School
St Agnes' Sunday School
Our Sunday School first began at a cottage at High Knolls, but people soon realised that a permanent base was needed and as such the first foundation stone for St Agnes School and Sunday School was laid by Miss Agnes Whittaker on 21st May 1869. By 1880 a church was deemed necessary and our church was opened by the second Bishop of Manchester on 27th November 1880.
Now, almost 150 years later, St Agnes Sunday School is still thriving. My name is Laura Lees and I am Sunday School Leader. With the help of a dedicated team of parent volunteers, we teach, entertain and encourage the children to grow together in love, compassion and mutual respect, based on the Christian values we hold at St Agnes.
Our Sunday School actually takes place within St Agnes School and as such this enables the younger children to become familiar with the surroundings of a primary school. A child’s attendance at Sunday School and parental attendance at Church forms part of the Admissions criteria for St Agnes’ and other Church schools.
Our Sunday school starts at 9.10am prompt, and every week we begin with a visit from the clergy who welcome the children and open with a prayer. We then celebrate birthdays and have our own ‘collection’ of pennies from the children in aid of Sunday School funds. We will normally have a short discussion with a video or slide show, similar to the topic in Church, followed by prayer. We sometimes sing songs or play games, or even have a short quiz and then the children then break out into smaller age appropriate groups to carry on with further activities. Our younger children have access to various toys and regularly join in the preschool activities under parental supervision. There are stories, songs, crafts and activities leading up to 10.00am, when the children then go up to church for a blessing. We sit within our groups in church and then we join in the final hymn and blessing, before going back to the school hall for coffee and biscuits.
St Agnes Sunday School is fun and friendly, yet we aim to sustain the Christian ethos of caring for one another and generating a loving atmosphere, which is at the heart of this small church and school.
You can find out more about our Sunday School and contact them by following their facebook page St Agnes Knolls Lane sunday school
St Hugh's
Although there has been no Sunday School at St Hugh's for many years now, the day school has a strong Christian ethos which is evident throughout the school. The Statutory Inspection of Anglican and Methodist Schools rated St Hugh's as "outstanding".
The wooden crosses shown in the picture, along with several others, were designed by children from the school, and are on display throughout the building.
Special services during the church year take place in the school hall so that the children can experience being in church.
St Thomas' Harvest Queen
Each year a Harvest Queen/King and her/his retinue are chosen from our Sunday School children based mainly on their attendance. The Queen/King is crowned shortly before the Harvest festival service and attends various services and social functions within the Community throughout the year. Whilst the emphasis is on family social gatherings with other local Churches, there is also an important fundraising aspect.
St Agnes' Rose Queen
The Rose Queen at St Agnes' is traditionally crowned just before Whit Sunday each year, and the first event that the Rose Queen and her retinue are involved in is the annual Whit Walk. Part of the Rose Queen’s responsibilities is to represent St Agnes and they visit a number of churches over the year to attend other ‘crownings’ and ‘at homes’. Lots of fundraising events are organised by the Rose Queens, retinues and of course their mums, including an annual dinner dance at the White Hart.
This year's Rose Queen is Ella, who wrote this lovely poem when she was in year 3.
Uniformed Organisations
Leesfield Parish has a full range of scout and guide organisations to suit all ages. Girls are welcomed into scouts at St Agnes', so there are no guide meetings there.
Although our scout and guide groups attend some church services and events, they are completely separate to church, and membership is open to children of all faiths or none.
The organisations meet in the school halls, and a schedule of their regular meetings is shown below.
Although our scout and guide groups attend some church services and events, they are completely separate to church, and membership is open to children of all faiths or none.
The organisations meet in the school halls, and a schedule of their regular meetings is shown below.
Parish Schools
We have three Church of England Voluntary Aided Primary Schools in Leesfield Parish, and their details can be found below.
St Thomas Leesfield CE Primary School
www.leesfield.oldham.sch.uk
Headteachers - Mrs Caroline Ireland & Mrs Paula Glynn
Chair of Governors - Mrs Rebecca Ashton
St Agnes C of E (Aided) Primary School
Headteachers - Mrs Caroline Ireland & Miss Sarah Butterworth
Chair of Governors - Mr Chris Cartwright
St Hugh's CE Primary School
Headteachers - Mrs Lynne Burnley & Mrs Jane Lisic
Chair of Governors - Rev Edith Disley
Chair of Governors - Mr Chris Cartwright
St Hugh's CE Primary School
Chair of Governors - Rev Edith Disley
