Children's Soft Space
Our soft space for children of all ages launches on September 1!
All are invited to worship with us in our new soft space! With the start of something new, there are sure to be questions along with celebrations. We hope to answer many of your questions here:
What is a soft space?
The soft space, in contrast to our hard wooden pews, is a carpeted and cushioned area for children of ALL ages (adults are welcome too!) to gather during worship.
We will have a designated adult volunteer stationed in the soft space each week to greet our children, to orient them to the space, and to guide them through our worship service.
Why are we creating a soft space in the nave?
For our children and families. Over the past year, the number of active families has doubled at St. Andrew’s, and we want to celebrate that growth
When we realized that we did not have the resources to create a full children’s program in the undercroft, we began to explore other options. We found that many churches across the Diocese of Virginia have successfully integrated soft spaces into their naves to keep young children engaged in the liturgical life of their communities.
For too long, we have separated children from the heart of worship. This fell in line with the more traditional maxim: “children should be seen but not heard.” Our hope at St. Andrew’s is to create a worshiping community where ALL are welcome, and where our neighbors walk in and think, “This place feels like home!”
Where is the soft space located?
The soft space is located in the front of the nave in what we call the transept, left of the center aisle, between the front pew and the lectern. You will see that the soft space fits perfectly in this spot and doesn’t block foot traffic. You will also notice that you cannot see the soft space from the back of the church, so it blends in well with our beautiful space.
Why is the soft space in the front and not in the back of the church?
We want our children to be at the center of our worship life, not on the edges. We hope that by placing the soft space in the front of the church, our children will be more engaged in worship than if we had tucked them away in the back.
We chose this location for a few logistical reasons as well. First, it is an unused space in the nave that does not block traffic in and out of pews and does not get in the way of the processional at the start and end of the service. Second, in conversation with parents, we realized that placing the soft space in the back of the church would have presented a safety issue. With the soft space in the front of the church, parents can keep an eye on their kiddos no matter where they are sitting.
Who is the soft space for?
The soft space is for everyone! While it is particularly designed to meet the needs of our children, ALL ages—old and young alike—are welcome to join us in the soft space on Sunday mornings. We encourage you to try it out!
What is in the soft space?
Our soft space is filled with soft things! A plushy carpet, a bean bag chair, pillows, and blankets. We also have quiet materials for children to engage with during the service including children’s bibles, coloring books, quiet blocks, puzzles, drawing materials, and a model of Noah’s Ark!
One of our favorite things in the soft space is a miniature altar where children can learn about the Eucharist through play.
What if this disrupts the worship service?
If the soft space turns out to be too disruptive, we will try out another spot. The good news is that this is a flexible space, not a permanent fixture, which means that we can always move it around, change it up, and try again!
We ask that you give us a few weeks to try out our new soft space and give our families a few weeks to adjust to the change. In a few weeks, whether your worship is enhanced or disrupted by the soft space, we want to hear from you! Please reach out directly to Peyton at or (804) 442-7764 with your feedback along the way. We are so grateful for your patience and enthusiasm as we explore what works for our whole church family.
What is a soft space?
The soft space, in contrast to our hard wooden pews, is a carpeted and cushioned area for children of ALL ages (adults are welcome too!) to gather during worship.
We will have a designated adult volunteer stationed in the soft space each week to greet our children, to orient them to the space, and to guide them through our worship service.
Why are we creating a soft space in the nave?
For our children and families. Over the past year, the number of active families has doubled at St. Andrew’s, and we want to celebrate that growth
When we realized that we did not have the resources to create a full children’s program in the undercroft, we began to explore other options. We found that many churches across the Diocese of Virginia have successfully integrated soft spaces into their naves to keep young children engaged in the liturgical life of their communities.
For too long, we have separated children from the heart of worship. This fell in line with the more traditional maxim: “children should be seen but not heard.” Our hope at St. Andrew’s is to create a worshiping community where ALL are welcome, and where our neighbors walk in and think, “This place feels like home!”
Where is the soft space located?
The soft space is located in the front of the nave in what we call the transept, left of the center aisle, between the front pew and the lectern. You will see that the soft space fits perfectly in this spot and doesn’t block foot traffic. You will also notice that you cannot see the soft space from the back of the church, so it blends in well with our beautiful space.
Why is the soft space in the front and not in the back of the church?
We want our children to be at the center of our worship life, not on the edges. We hope that by placing the soft space in the front of the church, our children will be more engaged in worship than if we had tucked them away in the back.
We chose this location for a few logistical reasons as well. First, it is an unused space in the nave that does not block traffic in and out of pews and does not get in the way of the processional at the start and end of the service. Second, in conversation with parents, we realized that placing the soft space in the back of the church would have presented a safety issue. With the soft space in the front of the church, parents can keep an eye on their kiddos no matter where they are sitting.
Who is the soft space for?
The soft space is for everyone! While it is particularly designed to meet the needs of our children, ALL ages—old and young alike—are welcome to join us in the soft space on Sunday mornings. We encourage you to try it out!
What is in the soft space?
Our soft space is filled with soft things! A plushy carpet, a bean bag chair, pillows, and blankets. We also have quiet materials for children to engage with during the service including children’s bibles, coloring books, quiet blocks, puzzles, drawing materials, and a model of Noah’s Ark!
One of our favorite things in the soft space is a miniature altar where children can learn about the Eucharist through play.
What if this disrupts the worship service?
If the soft space turns out to be too disruptive, we will try out another spot. The good news is that this is a flexible space, not a permanent fixture, which means that we can always move it around, change it up, and try again!
We ask that you give us a few weeks to try out our new soft space and give our families a few weeks to adjust to the change. In a few weeks, whether your worship is enhanced or disrupted by the soft space, we want to hear from you! Please reach out directly to Peyton at or (804) 442-7764 with your feedback along the way. We are so grateful for your patience and enthusiasm as we explore what works for our whole church family.
Loving God, Jesus told his disciples to become like little children.
Lead us to love and to honor all young people.
May we respect their dignity that they may flourish in this community and beyond,
and may all of God's children know that there is a place for them at your table.
Amen.