Articles

An invitation to intergenerational communion

Find out more about Bread & Wine: Roots' Communion resources for all ages

John Parr, an Anglican priest with years of academic and personal experience in the Middle East, explores this challenging topic through the lens of various Bible passages including Jesus’ parable of the Good Samaritan.

Kate Dommett, Programme Development Lead at Transforming Lives for Good (TLG), shares how local churches are transforming the lives of children facing struggles that are preventing them from engaging with school through a trauma-informed approach, building relationships, and early intervention coaching.

Jo Swinney, Director of Communications for A Rocha International, explores how the Bible tells the story of God’s love and redemptive purposes for all he has made, not just the people.

Richard Reddie, Director of Justice and Inclusion at Churches Together in Britain and Ireland (CTBI) and a Roots trustee, explains why more churches should get involved in marking Black History Month.

Tom Clark is Churches and Networks Consultant at the Church of England. He leads the workstream aiming to help churches recruit 27,000 volunteers with children and young people by 2030.

In a recent research report ‘Taking the Pulse’, Dr Sarah Holmes interviewed young people, parents, church leaders and volunteers to find out how to encourage faith in children and youth. Roots’ Managing Director Melanie Cave spoke to Sarah about the findings and suggests how churches can better support families.

Revd Kevin Colyer explains how churches can use gaming to explore faith and build community. Kevin is the M:Power Urban Evangelist at St James Church, Over Darwen (Diocese of Blackburn).

Will van der Hart is an ordained Anglican priest and director of the mental health charity Mind and Soul Foundation. He discusses the problems of masculinity in today’s society, particularly toxic masculinity and the Church’s role in advocating for positive masculinity.

​ In the UK, the 2025 Mental Health Awareness Week takes place from 12–18 May. Corin Pilling unpacks how the Church can be a safer place for each of us when we experience mental health challenges.

Vicki Smith, Executive Director of Services at Growing Hope, shares some insights about the impact of ADHD in children and young people, and how to support them within church communities.

How should Christians respond to a polarised world where people can be ‘cancelled’ for holding an opinion with which others do not agree? How can the Church offer second chances to people, rather than responding with judgement? Natalie Williams, author of a new book on the subject of mercy, outlines some pointers.    

A selection of resources to accompany the Roots podcast: Finding peace in a blue Christmas - embracing grief with compassion  

Dr Jared Neusch, author of Jesus vs the Bad Guys: A Story of Love and Forgiveness, explores ways to explore stories of violence and non-violence with young people  

Founder and Executive Director of Fischy Music, Stephen Fischbacher MBE, celebrates the huge potential that singing has for children and young people’s spiritual growth and personal wellbeing.

Becky Sedgwick is part of the Parenting for Faith team at BRF Ministries, author of Grandparenting for Faith and previously Children and Families Minister at her church. She lives in Wiltshire and volunteers with her church youth group and the local netball club. She’s not yet a grandparent but has recently become ‘grauntie’ to her first great-niece.

Juz Paice, head of kids mission and ministry at St Peter’s Anglican Church in Harrow, shares ways of making your toddler group distinctively Christian… without scaring everyone off!

Ways to ensure disabled people are not alienated from church life

Making connections with schools by exploring faith and science

Julia Burton-Jones is Anna Chaplaincy’s Training and Development Lead. Anna Chaplaincy supports churches to offer spiritual care in later life. She unpacks how we can include people with dementia in church life and worship.Click on the article image to view a PDF.

Gillian Warson, Roots' music in worship adviser, gives an overview of how she goes about selecting music for each issue of Roots.

How church workers can help to support children’s mental health

Chris Curtis considers how there is hope for churches with no youth work or young people.

Ian Stackhouse, senior pastor at Millmead Baptist Church, Guildford, offers tips for honing your preaching skills.

Joanna Gordon offers guidance on setting up a toddler group at your church.

Andy Flannagan describes the thinking behind LICC’s ‘Changing the soundtrack’ project.

Tim Abbott, a founder member and GB Team Leader of Prayer Spaces in Schools, describes what they do and how they might help you.

Chine McDonald reflects on racism and Scripture

Thank you to everyone who completed our survey earlier this year. We've really appreciated the thought and time you put into your answers! We've worked our way through them and identified some patterns; we thought you'd like to see some of our key findings.

Lots of ideas to help you use nature and the great outdoors to worship and engage with your community

Discover practical and relevant ways to explore the Bible in schools

Helping you reach out to your communities this Advent and Christmas

COMING IN AUTUMN 2025