Kids stuff @ Dorchester Abbey
Visiting the Abbey
I Spy, Colouring and Activity sheets
Our popular free I Spy sheets encourage children of all ages to take a different look at the Abbey. Can they find the Abbey treasures and answer the questions? These sheets can be found at the bottom of the welcome noticeboard as you come into the Abbey
We also have a supply of colouring and activity sheets available in the children’s corner or you can download them to use before your visit.
Children’s Corner
We have a children’s corner packed with toys, colouring sheets, books and puzzles to keep your little children occupied while you are visiting the Abbey. Get them to leave us a picture with their name and age on and we’ll add it to our gallery!
Museum and Tea Room
The Museum and Tea Room are open most afternoons from from the Saturday of Easter weekend through to September. For more details on opening times look here.
Our museum is set up on the old village school room, with desks and even a teacher’s gown and cap for children to try on! There are great displays of Dorchester through the ages, a touchscreen and many exhibits that can be handled.
The Tea Room is the perfect place to end your visit! Tea, coffee, and as much home made cake as you can eat! The Cloister Gardens provide plenty of space for children to let off steam easily supervised from the Tea Room courtyard.
Children’s services
Children’s Activity Bags
Children are very welcome at all services in the Abbey but even the best behaved child can need occasional distraction. They are welcome to run around the Abbey or go to the children’s corner at any point but there are also children’s activity bags available which have books and quiet toys for them to play with in the pews. Our sidespeople are happy to hand these out with books as you arrive!
Monthly Family Services – 2nd Sunday 10.30am
Children are very welcome at all services in the Abbey but every second Sunday we also have a Family Service. These are great fun and less formal, with children’s activities and hymns accompanied by our own Family Service Orchestra (see below). Why not come along and try it out?
You can see when our next Family Service is by looking at our Services page.
Family Communion for Special Sundays
On significant Sundays (for example, Mothering Sunday) we have Family Communion Services. These services have hymns commonly sung at local schools and a sermon which actively involves the children. You are welcome to stay with us for communion or leave during the pre-communion hymn. All ages are welcome to come to the altar for a blessing if they do not take communion or can stay in their seats if they prefer.
Regular children’s activities
Family Service Orchestra – 9.45 2nd Sundays
Our Orchestra leads the hymns at the 10.30 Family service usually on the 2nd Sunday of the month, with a short rehearsal beforehand at 9.45am. Music is issued the previous weekend for personal practice. Players of orchestral instruments from intermediate (about grade 3ish) upwards are very welcome and should contact Jeremy Boughton, Abbey Director of Music
Junior Choir – 6-6.30pm Fridays in Term Time
For young singers age 7 and above, our junior choir sing at 10-30 Eucharist one Sunday each month and at other occasional services. New youngsters who enjoy singing are very welcome and should contact: Jeremy Boughton, Abbey Director of Music
Education
We have a dedicated Education Officer who does excellent work with visiting schools at the Abbey. Look here to find out more about her work.
