As a Voluntary Aided School, Newbottle and Charlton CEVA Primary school has a strong links with the St James' church in Newbottle.

​​

While our school is based in the village of Charlton, our church- St James' in located in the small hamlet of Newbottle. Father Matthew Robinson is our vicar who supports us by delivering worship in school every week and is a member of our governing body. 

 

ST JAMES CHURCH, NEWBOTTLE WITH CHARLTON. - ST JAMES CHURCH, NEWBOTTLE WITH CHARLTON. (weebly.com)

​

​St James - A Church Near You

​​​

Recognising its historic foundation, the school preserves and develops its religious character in accordance with the principles of the Church of England and in partnership with the church at parish and diocesan level. 

 

Church Services

We join together as a whole school for a number of services at our local church St James' throughout the year where members of our community are also welcome to attend.  These are led by the school with the children doing readings, poems and prayers, while our local vicar provides the talk on each theme with support from the pupils as well as his own prayers and blessings. 

 

​Harvest

During our Harvest service, we say thank you to the farmers and everyone involved in the production of the food we eat. We give thanks to God for everything he provides for us. 

​

Christmas

During Advent we light a candle each week to observe the time of waiting and preparation for the celebration of the birth of Jesus at Christmas.

 

Nativity

A Christmas Nativity is probably one of the most recognisable symbols of the Christmas season. The Nativity recreates the scene of Jesus' birth and tells of how Mary and Joseph were visited by the Shepherds and Wise Men. While each production is different we ensure that the main message of the nativity is the celebration of the birth of Jesus.

Our nativity is led by children in Oak and Ash class. 

​

Christingle

Each year children from Elm and Birch class lead us in a special Christingle service at the church in the evening.  This is a joyful celebration that brings families and communities together to share the light of Jesus and spread a message of hope. During the service, each child takes a Christingle and the candles are all lit to create a warm, magical glow in the shape of a cross to symbolise the light of Christ and bringing hope to people living in darkness. We support Children's Society and local food bank at this service to help those who are struggling at this time of year. 

​

Christmas Service

Our Christmas service is a time to reflect on the real meaning of Christmas with traditional carols as well as some newer songs along with poems and readings.

 

Epiphany

​During our first Collective Worship of the new year we go up to church to learn about the meaning of Epiphany (Twelfth Night).  We reflected on the Christmas story and the important  guests who went to Bethlehem to visit the baby Jesus.  We learned that Epiphany is when the three wise men arrived at the stable with their gifts of Gold, Frankincense and Myrrh.

 

Lent

We join the community for a service of Holy Communion on Ash Wednesday. Children lead prayers and readings and help as altar servers. Many of our pupils choose to receive the traditional imposition of ashes. This is a powerful symbol of our intention to use Lent to reflect on our lives, and how we can better fulfil Jesus’ new commandment, and our bible verse, to do everything in love. 

​

Easter

Our Easter service is a very special time for us. We reflect on the last week in the life of Jesus and our most important belief—that he came alive again after his death. Again this service is led by the children and is always uplighting. 

​

Leavers' Service

We celebrate the achievements of our Year 6 pupils and any other leavers in this special service and the contributions they have made to school life at Newbottle and Charlton and reflect on the year but also look ahead to the adventrues they will have at their next school. 

​

Bible Giving

Every pupil gifted a Bible during the leavers service when they reach the end of Year 4. They are presented with their Bible by Father Matthew. They keep it in school while in Birch class and then can take it with them when they leave our school. 

​