A village in Dorset is experiencing a unique controversy after the installation of a £20,000, two-storey soft play area inside St. Mary's Church. Reverend Andrew Rawding conceived the idea to offer a free indoor play space for young children, particularly for parents who waited in the church porch during inclement weather while picking up older siblings from a nearby school. The play area, featuring a slide, steps, and foam blocks, has been set up in the nave, alongside the church's pews.
While the initiative aims to serve the community and make use of the building, which is largely unoccupied during the week, some parishioners have voiced concerns. These residents reportedly question whether adequate consultation occurred before the project's initiation and worry about the play area's appropriateness within a place of worship. Concerns have also been raised about the potential for damage to the church's stained glass windows.
Rev. Rawding stated that the village hall is frequently booked with other activities, leaving a need for an indoor play facility. He believes the church, as a community hub, should cater to its residents. "It is more important we are here for those people in the community than we are for niche groups," he said, adding that the church serves the community.
The soft play area is unsupervised, with parents asked to take responsibility for their children. The interim head teacher of Burton Bradstock CofE School, Holly Varndell-Paulley, noted the potential benefit for younger students, especially on rainy days, calling it "an additional space to add to our school."