Welcome to the youth section of the website. In this part of the site, you will learn about many of the different aspects of the Christian religion for your age group.

On Sunday mornings, Junior Church divides into four age groups. The first group is called Powerpack. It's for little ones; those aged from 3 until 6 so that's nursery, reception and Year 1. In this group, the children sing songs, listen to a story and play. The next group is called Junior Church and it's for children aged between 6 and 9 so that's school years 2-4. In this group, the children sing, hear a story from the bible, play games and have fun crafts to make such as mobiles and books which, when they take them home, will help remind them of what they learned that day. The third group, called JC 9-2-11, is for 9-11 year olds, that's school years 5 and 6 and, again, the group works and plays around a week's topic. The fourth group is called Focus and is for all young people aged 12 and above - so that's for school Year 7 and over. The sessions are a mix of games, bible study and prayer. All groups are led by adults, many of whom are parents of youngsters who attend Junior Church. All are CRB-checked. The sessions last about thirty minutes. The theme varies from week to week so some weeks will be active while others will be less so. During term time, there is also a Sunday evening version of the Focus groups that meets at Oundle Primary School for a Youth Club. It's called "B2B" which is short for "Born to Believe". Again, it's a chance for all those over the age of 12 to get together to play games, have fun and chill. It is run by the vicar Richard Ormston with help from other adults.
What about the very young ones? Every Wednesday afternoon during term-time, there is a chance for parents and their children aged between nought and three to come along to St Peter's for "Tiny Tots" (pictured left). Oundle School teenagers come along to lend a helping hand as the children sing, dance, play musical instruments, have simple bible stories read to them and play. Each session starts at 2.15pm and lasts for about an hour and it's open to everyone. Mums, Dads, grandparents and carers all come along for the sessions which are led by either the vicar, the curate or one of the parents. There are also opportunities for youngsters to meet at events such as the Parish Weekend which takes place from time to time. In 2008, many families are travelling to Spring Harvest. These are times when youngsters can learn more about the Christian faith in a relaxed way. At Spring Harvest for example, they learn alongside thousands of others in their age group. To get involved, contact these people: Powerpack - Jane Webster (01832 275631 or e-mail her). Junior Church - Talia Borley (01832 275470 or e-mail her). JC9-2-11 - Emily Taylor (01832 275830 or e-mail her). Focus - Moira Edwardson (01832 274405  or e-mail her).

There is so much going on for children and young people at St Peter's and Oundle has its own Christian Youth Worker too! He's Nic Shaw (pictured left) whose job it is to work with youth in towns and villages in the catchment area  of Prince William School and Sixth Form Centre. In local schools, he takes assemblies and leads lunchtime and after-school clubs as well as leading expeditions in rock climbing and biking. More details about Nic and his organisation, the Oundle Churches Youth Association (OCYA) can be found here.

Baptism

Baptism is one of the very important stages of your Christian life. By being baptised, it symbolises that you are being washed of your sins and that you acknowledge what Jesus has done for you. If you have broadband you can view a video about baptism at St Peter's here.

What is Baptism?

Baptism is when a person decides that they want to be forgiven for the sins that they have committed and to be cleansed by God. Just as Jesus was baptised in the River Jordan about 2000 years ago, people are “born again” and their sins are washed away. The striking mural (pictured right) is situated at the north-west corner of the nave at St Peter's and hangs just above the font. The artwork was carried out by a teenage school pupil in the 1990s as part of a project. It depicts the baptism of Jesus taking place in the River Nene. As John the Baptist annoints Jesus' head, the crowd on the Oundle bridge is cheering and supporting - with St Peter's Church in the background.

Why should I be baptised?

Baptism often happens when you are a baby and you don’t have much of a say about whether you want to be baptised or not! However, if you have not been baptised, it is a great opportunity for you to become one step closer to God. Baptism helps us to separate the great boundary of sin between God and us, by acknowledging Jesus’ sacrifice on the cross.

Baptism FAQ's

Q. - When should I be baptised?
A. - You should be baptised when you feel ready to be. There is no point in being baptised only to regret it in the future.

Q. - Who baptises me?
A. - The Vicar, Assistant Curate or other ordained minister will baptise you

Q. - Where am I baptised?
A. - At St Peter’s, you will be baptised standing by a font. However, in some parishes, you could be baptised in a bath or even a swimming pool!

Q. - If I didn’t get baptised at birth, do I have to miss out on it?
A. - No! There is no limited age for baptism. It is just that most often babies are baptised. You can be baptised at any age, so don’t worry!

Confirmation

Confirmation is when a person decides that they want to follow God for the rest of their lives. It is probably the most important step in the Christian religion that they will ever undergo. Having received confirmation, you are allowed to take communion at the altar and consume consecrated the bread and wine.

Why should I be confirmed?

Confirmation is a very serious step in your walk with the Lord. There is no prize for being confirmed, apart from that of God. When you are confirmed, even though you may not feel it at the time, you are coming closer to God. You should be confirmed if you want to become closer, follow, and learn more about God for the rest of your life.

Confirmation FAQs

Q. - When should I be confirmed?
A. - You should be confirmed when you are ready. Unlike baptism, for confirmation, there is no going back, and so you have to be sure that you have made the right decision before undergoing the ceremony.

Q. - Who confirms me?
A. - Because confirmation is a lot more meaningful and prestigious than baptism, a bishop will come and confirm you in your church.

Q. - Is there an age limit?
A. - There is no age limit for confirmation although most people are confirmed as adults. However, children under the age of 13 are not recommended to be confirmed, as most adults think that they are still too young to make the decision for themselves.

For more information about baptism or confirmation, please speak to the vicar or to the assistant curate.