The Salvation Army in Stroud launches innovative 'Lego Church' for Families

published on 27 Jan 2026

The Salvation Army in Stroud is breaking new ground in community engagement with the launch of its ‘Lego Church’, a creative and interactive weekly session designed for children and their families. Led by Ministry and Management Apprentice Hayley Rowley, this innovative initiative combines faith, fun, and the universal appeal of models built of Lego® bricks.  

Scheduled to begin on 24 February, Lego Church will run every Tuesday afternoon from 3:30 pm to 4:30 pm at The Salvation Army hall on Acre Street. The sessions aim to provide a welcoming, informal space where children can explore Bible stories, express their faith, and build community. 

Hayley Rowley, who brings a wealth of experience as a qualified nursery nurse and teaching assistant with training in child development and special needs, is the driving force behind the project. 

“We are incredibly excited to start Lego® Church. After conversations with parents at our toddler groups and elsewhere, it was clear that an activity combining Lego ® and learning would be hugely popular. Both children and adults love building together. Linking this with teaching Bible stories seemed perfect. My own children always loved the Lego Bible videos, and we’re thrilled to bring that experience to the wider community,”
said Hayley.

Each Lego Church session will follow an engaging format:

*   A welcoming snack and a viewing of a Lego-themed Bible story video.

*   A building challenge where children are invited to create scenes from the story or express how it made them feel, working at tables or on the floor in a relaxed environment.

*   A unique ‘Lego Prayer Station’, where different coloured bricks represent different types of prayer—for example, red for ‘sorry’, yellow for ‘thank you’—allowing children to build their prayers into colourful towers.

Stroud Lego Church

The sessions will be run by Hayley and Christopher Button who leads The Salvation Army in Stroud, supported by a team of volunteers. The hope is to expand the volunteer team by inviting other local churches to participate in a rolling rota through ‘Churches Together in Stroud’, fostering wider community collaboration.

Hayley said, “This is about meeting families where they are, in a language of creativity and play that children instinctively understand. Lego® Church is more than just a play session; it’s a gentle, hands-on introduction to faith, storytelling, and reflection. We believe it will be a valuable and joyful addition to our community outreach.”

Everyone is welcome regardless of beliefs or background, with the emphasis on fun and community. To join the group simply drop in or email Hayley ahead of time: Hayley.Rowley@salvationarmy.org.uk.

The Salvation Army in Stroud is a community hub driven by compassion to offer practical support and a welcoming space for all, providing vital services and foster connections to strengthen individuals and families. 

From the welcoming Community Café it runs in partnership with Stroud Town Council,—a space for friendship, food, and support every Wednesday—to Recovery Church on Thursdays, which offers a safe, faith-based environment for those healing from life’s challenges, the organisation meets people where they are. There is a toddler group which meets every Monday from 9:30 AM to 11:30 AM that is open to mums, dads, grandparents and carers. 

They have been recognised as a 'safe church' by the RestoredUK network following a year of training in supporting people who have or are experiencing domestic violence and abuse. Their volunteers and leadership team are able to support people in need, signpost them to the best local agencies to support them, and we offer worship and Bible teaching that recognises the need to resist the tendency towards abuse in our society. For more information about The Salvation Army in Stroud: Stroud | The Salvation Army.