Church and School Link Up Over Games

Fountainhall Church Centre opened its doors this month to three Juniors from St Margaret’s School for Girls, renewing a community link that resumed in April 2024 after its pause during the pandemic.

The visits may be small in scale, but they’re already creating something special. At the first gathering, the pupils brought along a set of maths card games and soon had the church hall alive with laughter, friendly competition, and cross-generational chatter.

“It’s not really about the games,” said one church member afterwards. “It’s about being together. You see the girls’ confidence growing, and you realise how much we all gain from spending this time together.”

For the church, the initiative is about more than play. It is a safe, welcoming space where young people and adults can meet, share time, and discover common ground. Future sessions will include reading and craft activities — simple, hands-on ways to spark curiosity, build confidence, and nurture friendships.

For the pupils, the visits offer a chance to step outside the classroom and experience learning and play in new ways. For congregation members, the afternoons are a reminder of the richness of intergenerational connection — something deeply missed during the years of the pandemic.

What makes the partnership remarkable is its simplicity. In a world where initiatives are often measured by size and resources, Fountainhall’s approach is refreshingly modest: open the doors, set out a few tables, and let people gather. Within those small gestures lies something profound — a reminder that community does not need to be engineered, only welcomed.

Both school and church are optimistic about the months ahead. As the year unfolds, they hope these monthly afternoons will not only strengthen ties between St Margaret’s and Fountainhall, but also nurture a culture of kindness, creativity, and belonging. If the laughter spilling from the hall is any indication, that hope is already taking shape.