Recently, just ahead of the half term break, 84 headteachers and church leaders joined us for an encouraging day at the Dunkenhalgh Hotel organised by the Diocesan Board of Education, writes Sally Schofield, Deputy Director. 

We shared Eucharist together, led by Archdeacon David Picken, chair of the Board of Education, then heard from the Bishop of Blackburn, Rt Rev. Philip North, who challenged us to continue building our schools as joyful Christian communities which nurture confident, resilient children. 

Speaker, Lucy Moore from the Growing Faith Foundation of The Church of England, described what is happening across the Church as new ways of doing church are explored.

We heard about groups of young people coming together in all sorts of ways to worship God and to understand more about who He is. 

In the afternoon, following words of encouragement from the Bishop of Lancaster, Rt Rev. Dr Jill Duff, several people shared what is happening in new worshipping communities across our diocese in Lancashire. 

Balderstone St Leonard’s described their Forest Church which is meeting monthly and attracting lots of new families.

We heard about Choir Churches being set up around the diocese and particularly the one in Holy Trinity Church of England Primary School, Tarleton. 

St Christopher’s, Accrington described the experience they have been having of setting up a ‘youth church’ run by the youth in the school 

We were also shown the work of CPAS School Ventures and the opportunities there are to involve classes from our schools.

Headteachers and their incumbents were also given plenty of space and time to meet together, reflect, plan and think through the coming year and about the joyful Christian communities they are creating and sustaining together as churches and schools.

It was really encouraging to hear all that is going on and we look forward to welcoming even more people to the same event next year!