NADFAS Church Trails
A Church Trail is a questionnaire designed by members of NADFAS for children aged 8 -12 but is really for people of all ages! The trail guides the participant round a church looking at the architecture, history and furnishings. A corresponding answer sheet is provided for accompanying adults. The aim is to encourage children to explore the building, to learn about it and enjoy the experience so that they are inspired to visit other churches.
The trail may be used with schools, as it is compatible with parts of the Religious Education curriculum. It may also be used by clergy and staff, with children's groups and by families visiting the church. One incumbent, using half the trail with a class and then inviting the parents to finish the trail with their children, announced that he had learned “so much about his church from the NADFAS Trail!”
The questionnaire is an A4, black and white, two-sided sheet in a child-friendly design. The simplicity of this format keeps the cost of reproduction to the absolute minimum. The answers, on two sides of A4, are knowledgeable and properly researched. Samples are available.
When a trail has been designed and tested, a CD and hard copy of the questions and answers will be presented to the church to use as it wants. The local NADFAS Society bears the initial cost of making the trail and setting it up in the church. The church would then fund the maintenance of supplies of the trail.
Would you like a NADFAS trail for your church?
To find out more or receive details of your nearest NADFAS society please visit our Join Us! Pages, email us or telephone 020 7430 0730.
Our East Surrey Area has already designed its first Church Trail. Visit their website to find out more.
Click here to read about Church Trails in the spring/summer copy of the National Churches Trust magazine.
