Active Sunday schools in Richmond

[Newtoallthis12]

Hi all,
I just moved to Richmond on Thames from the NYC area. I am seeking a church with an active Sunday school and junior choir like the one I left in the NYC area (I was a Sunday School teacher btw).
We have tried a few C of E churches nearby and the groups of children tend to be all together, with mostly young children. My son, who is 9, used to love Sunday School, but isn't happy in one that is basically a few young children playing for an hour, sort of like a day care.
Anyone know of churches nearby that offer something more than that?
Thanks.

You might get bigger Sunday schools in different denominations - CofE is only part of the picture.

I've been going to church my whole life and in my experience a choir for kids is pretty unusual in the uk, outside of cathedral choristers in England (I'm in Scotland).

Might be worth trying a local Baptist/Methodist/Independent/Community church as well as the Church of England ones?

Thanks. Our church was Presbyterian back in the US. There don't appear to be any nearby. I was raised Methodist, so that could work.

What do you mean by an active Sunday School - what exactly are you looking for?

St Richard's Hanwell is a fantastic church with vibrant youth and children's work.

You are unlikely to find Presbyterian in Richmond and the surrounding area but you will find Baptist and Independent Evangelical. The Church of England is Anglican (Episcopalian in the US) and a very broad church so you will get everything from smells and bells to mega church with praise bands and all points inbetween.

If your son wants to sing then most choirs will be in traditional churches where the choristers robe and lead the singing as well as performing anthems and similar.

Methodist sounds a good bet but I don't know the London scene at all. Try googling the Church of Fools Mystery Worshipper project and see if that has any suggestions.

Presbyterian is found in United Churches.

I second thegreenheart's suggestion to check out Ship of Fools' Mystery Worshipper as it should give you an idea of the general style and feel of a particular church although it will not mention anything about the range and focus of the children's groups.

Thanks everyone.

There is a Church of Scotland church (Presbyterian) in Knightsbridge in London. Don't think that's very close to you though and I've no idea what it's like.

I think very highly of the minister of Duke St Church in Richmond, and they seem to have an active Sunday School - www.dukestreetchurch.com