Is there a place for young children in the modern-day UK church? Investigating approaches to faith nurture in the early years
Bibliographic Data
| ID | 21445321 |
|---|---|
| Authors | Sarah E Holme (0000-0002-5475-0072, Liverpool Hope University, corresponding author), Emma Olorenshaw (0009-0000-6553-8395, Liverpool Hope University), Andrew Casson (0000-0002-9976-4638, Canterbury Christ Church University), Ann Casson (Canterbury Christ Church University) |
| Year | 2025 |
| Volume | 47 |
| Issue | 2 |
| Pages | 156-170 |
| Publication date | 2025-04-03 |
| Peer Reviewed | Yes |
| Open Access | Yes |
| Type | ARTICLE |
| Venue | British Journal of Religious Education (JOURNAL) |
| Journal identifiers | ISSN: 0141-6200 • E-ISSN: 1740-7931 |
| Publisher | Informa UK Limited (PUBLISHER • GB) |
| DOI | 10.1080/01416200.2024.2373756 |
| OpenAlex | W4400400443 |
| Language | EN |
| References cited | 21 |
This phenomenological study examines lived experiences and perceptions of Christian parents of young children to investigate their approaches to faith activity and nurture and the extent to which this includes authenticity of welcome for young children in the modern-day church. Online survey data was analysed thematically through the lens of established theories regarding the nature of faith in the early years. Findings revealed that families with young children do wish to engage with their local church and wider Christian community, but often find existing approaches unsupportive and unhelpful. Significant adjustments are therefore required to church-led ethos and approaches to faith nurture to better serve the needs of young children. Recommendations are made for more flexibility and inclusivity within the church environment, enhanced partnership with parents, and greater church focus on co-constructing faith nurturing pathways within the home and church context to align more with relationships within the child’s microsystem
Context (archaeology) · Ethos · Faith · Flexibility (engineering) · Nature versus nurture · Political science · Sociology · Theology · Anthropology · Gender Studies · Law · Psychology · Religion, Society, and Development · Religion, Spirituality, and Psychology · Religious Education and Schools
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Religious participation of children as active subjects
Four links between Child Theology and children’s spirituality
‘Will my child have their own faith?’ Exploring the impact of parental beliefs on childhood faith nurture
Kairos moments and serendipitous insights
Do contemporary Christian families need the church? Examining the benefits of faith communities from parent and child perspectives
Early childhood educators’ provision of remote learning during Covid-19
Religiosity in the major religious cultures of the world
Using thematic analysis in psychology
Religious Development in Childhood and Youth
Religious Development in Childhood and Youth
Attachment Theory and Religion
Religion and child development
| Citation velocity | historical |
|---|---|
| Highly cited | No |