Need to find a church

[AndWhat]

I have spent my life dipping in and out of local churches (CofE) but am quite socially awkward and have found most to have lots of cliques where I don’t fit in/don’t push myself into.
I now have children and want them to attend and learn about my faith (also in case of requiring attendance for schooling ).
I feel I can’t go back to a church I’ve already been too so how do I find a church that suits me and my family without dragging the kids to different churches. I desperately don’t want them to be as awkward as me and fit in where I struggle.

Google is your friend. Most churches these days have websites and you can have a look to see if they are big, small, have children's work, sing praise songs or have a robed choir and make your decision accordingly. All churches are social systems and will take a bit of navigating. When I was part of a very large church we had a welcome team on the door to help new people with books and where to sit and coffee. It was a really tricky job as some people wanted a welcome, some wanted to be left alone, others said they wanted to be left alone but really wanted company etc. Most churches are delighted to welcome new people. Everyone is fallible and my worst experience was someone climbing over me to share the peace with someone else. I was checking the place over to see if I would apply for a job there. I didn't. Where I am now they were lovely.

Are you worried about going back to a church you have been to before as they will be critical you haven't been for a while, or because they don't feel tight for you?
If it is the former, there are lots of people who turn up very infrequently and hopefully you will be made to feel welcome, especially with a child in tow.
However, if it is the second do some research on the Internet. See if anywhere advertises a Sunday school, I have always found it easier to chat to new people waiting to pick the kids up, than in a big melee at coffee after the service which always feels so cliquey, and easy not to be noticed.
I know our churches are trying to be more welcoming. But as mostlydrinktea says that can be harder than first realised.

Yes I think it’s the apprehension of going back to a church I went to before I became a mum which I didn’t feel was a right fit then. I didn’t take to the vicar at our nearest church and he was in charge of a ‘team’ of all 3 local churches.
Also I don’t know where to start with the challenges of my faith.

If you're struggling to feel comfortable in several churches that you've tried, why on earth would you put your children through it?
Or is it just to get them a place in a church school?

Teams work in different ways. The one I was in we all ran our own churches and the congregation didn't see the team rector from one year to the next if they didn't go to joint services. It might not work in the same way but unless your challenges with your faith involve the need to sacrifice chickens on the altar then I suspect that most priests will have encountered similar. After a day full of admin and sorting out the photocopier and the drains most of us love to listen to people talk about their faith. Do any of the churches do a Messy Church sort of thing which lets you see how they operate without commitment?

These people can help you find a church that might work for you
christianity.org.uk/