Church throws open its doors to pupil

Pupils and teachers from All Saints C of E Primary School took part in the annual ‘Church Week’ event that’s been taking place at the church for the last 17 years.

During the week the children do lots of different activities including singing, dancing, worship and learning.

Revd Daniel Currie says it’s a wonderful opportunity for the children of All Saints C of E to learn more about Church.

He said: “We have children as young as four coming up for the very first time into church and they feel at home after doing Church Week, they feel like this is a space where they can connect.

“And also, really importantly, they start to realise this is a space where there is something more to life than just school; there’s something about God and Jesus that’s out there and they can start to connect with, and they begin to feel that sense of encounter.”

Among the activities pupils have a go at bell ringing, silent disco, hunt the shoe and a nature trail in the church grounds.

Kate Noble, head teacher of All Saints C of E, says the children look forward to Church Week every year.

“You hear the children as they stream back to school on their way back saying things like ‘That was the best day ever’, ‘We’ve loved it’, ‘That was amazing’, ‘It was such good fun’, and they can’t wait to go again.”

The event is supported by more than 40 volunteers throughout the week to ensure everything runs smoothly. Among them is Hayley Ringrose, a foundation governor at the school.

She said: “It’s that link between church and school. I really do think we’re quite unique actually, I’ve not seen or heard of a connection, even among other church schools, as strong as what we see here in Marple.