Notts church schools celebrate 200 years together

Hundreds of children, teachers and supporters will come together this Saturday to celebrate the 200th anniversary of the Church of England’s National Society, which set up the first Church Schools in 1811.

The special service in Southwell Minster on Saturday, 19th November at 2pm, is the culmination of a year of events around the 70 church schools in Nottinghamshire and will include music, dance, banner processions and dramatised readings.

Every church school has taken part in the year and marked the anniversary with a range of events and activities from balloon launches through to exhibitions and specially themed days. Every school has also taken part in the ‘Burning Brightly’ candle journey when each school has hosted the candle  and then passed it on to the next school. The Bishop of Southwell & Nottingham and the Bishop of Sherwood  have also been out and about joining in with the celebrations during the past year. The candle will arrive at the Minster School this week, the final link in the chain, before it is brought to the Cathedral to mark the end of its journey round the 70 church schools in the Diocese of Southwell & Nottingham.

Director of Education for the diocese, Claire Meese said: “This is set to be a fantastic service of celebration, when we will all be able to give thanks for our Church Schools and the huge contribution they continue to make across the county.”

At the start of the service a school bell will be rung by a pupil from Linby-cum-Papplewick Primary School. The banner, which was taken to the national celebration at Westminster Abbey and devised from suggestions from five of our church primary schools will also be processed into the Minster.

During the service, the Chief Education Officer for The National Society, the Revd Janina Ainsworth will talk about the reason for the celebration nationally and the Bishop of Southwell & Nottingham, the Rt Revd Paul Butler will give a talk.

Other elements of the service will include stories from students from Nottingham Bluecoat School, who will talk about their trip to the partner diocese of Natal in South Africa.
There will be musical contributions from a combined choir with Nottingham Bluecoat, the Nottingham Emmanuel and The Minster School, with dance performances from pupils from the Samworth Church Academy in Mansfield.

Children will also be involved in prayers and lighting candles to mark the anniversary.

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For further details and photo opportunities contact Rachel Farmer tel 01636 817218 mobile 077 121 96381