On Wednesday, 13 November over 50 delegates gathered in Nailsea for the second Growing Faith Foundation Big Lunch. The day took place at Holy Trinity Church and welcomed clergy, diocesan advisers, school leaders and youth and children’s ministers from across Bath and Wells and the wider southwest, along with representatives of other church organisations.
The day centred around the Pupil Chaplaincy programme set up as a partnership between St Andrew’s Church and Backwell Church of England Junior School. The Backwell Pupil Chaplains, all Year 6 pupils at the school, led the day’s opening worship and participated in discussions throughout the morning as all those gathered explored big questions around how we seek to place children, young people and families at the heart of all that we do.
Timi Booy, Children, Families and School Worker at St Andrew’s Backwell, shared the story so far of how the pupil chaplaincy project grew out of the children’s eagerness to ask questions about Jesus and the Bible after collective worship. Those who take on the role of Pupil Chaplain have weekly opportunities to dive deeper into faith questions and learn more about what it means to be a Christian. They are then in turn asked to live out the values in their school and community.
After lunch, delegates heard from national and diocesan teams about developments across the country as well as those here in Bath and Wells.
Speaking of the day’s success, Timi commented: “The Backwell Junior School Pupil Chaplain team enjoyed taking part in the Growing Faith Foundation Lunch this week. The children confidently contributed to all the discussions and had fun leading worship! We would love to see pupil chaplaincy grow in the schools around us, and hopefully some conversations have started around that this week.”
Growing Faith Foundation’s Stephen Beamond added: “What a delight it was to join together for the Growing Faith Big Lunch at Holy Trinity, Nailsea! It was wonderful to hear about the innovative work going on with pupil chaplains at Backwell Junior School and be led by the children themselves throughout so much of the day. It was a joy to gather with others who are seeking to place children and young people at the heart of all their practice. Such a life-giving day!’
For more on Growing Faith and Pupil Chaplaincy in Bath and Wells contact the Go Team.