Phil Togwell writes:

‘For more than two years all of the Prayer Spaces in Schools training  sessions have been online, so it was fantastic to be in a real room (rather than a Zoom room) with whole people (instead of just heads-and-shoulders) once again.

It was great to work alongside our friends, Jen McIlveen and Jonathan Masters, from the Chester Diocese, and to meet with lots of local people who have either already hosted prayer spaces or are eager to get started. The interest in prayer spaces is rising quickly, and perhaps the need for them – spaces where pupils can pause, reflect on what’s happening in their lives and around the world and maybe try praying – has never been greater.

My two highlights would be, a) Our unexpected visitor. We spotted a tiny bat climbing up one of the tall curtains half way through the session. A quick call to the National Bat Helpline gave us the advice we needed to keep the little fella safe. And b) Listening to the Deputy Head teacher from Ellesmere Port CofE College, who told a few stories about their first prayerspace, a few weeks ago. ‘I cannot put into words just how much the prayer space has transformed our school,’ she said.’