“Prayer spaces give children and young people a way to explore personal reflection and prayer for themselves using a selection of engaging and creative activities.” 

The opening comment in the Head’s weekly newsletter at the end of our visit.

Through a link with the Parish Church we were invited and warmly welcomed into the school. Over the course of the week lots of children and staff commented on the ‘feel’ of the room. They spoke of how the calm music in the background, the gentle lights, the different areas created by tents and gazebos made it feel a special place and how different it was to the rest of a busy school where sound echoed up the stair wells.(Originally the building was built as a hospital in late 19C with long wards and corridors and very high ceilings. One of the team who had been a nurse commented how she could visualise which spaces were wards and treatment rooms.)

“It was really calm and beautiful room, it helped me relax and I could have some time for myself”Yr4 pupil

“I was not expecting what we just experienced! It was calm, quiet and so many zones to choose from. I particularly enjoyed the headphone activities and listening to the calming music.”  

Yr5 pupil 

“The children’s faces showed they were really focused and engaged in the activity and the sense of peace and calm was felt in the room.”

A team member.

On the Monday evening after set up I was given the wonderful opportunity to lead staff training to help them in their understanding of how to develop prayer and reflection in their classrooms through worship and within the curriculum. Staff also had the opportunity to pause and reflect in the space themselves.

A TA staff member who had been at the session next morning said,

“It’s the best thing I’ve done. I’ve three kids and don’t give myself space.”

For three days groups from the Key Stage 2 classes visited the space. At the end of each session we gathered the children together to hear their feedback which in turn helps us to develop the Spaces. Yr 4, 5 and 6 wrote their comments individually.

“I felt like all the weight has been taken off my shoulders and I feel a better version of myself.”  Yr5 pupil

“I got to pray to connect with God.” Yr4 pupil

“I loved how peaceful it was. I feel closer to people.” Yr4 pupil

“I found the Bubble Tube helpful because it made me feel relaxed and get my worries away.” Yr 3 pupil

“Forgiveness stones helped me feel peaceful and stress free and helped be forget about my worries and focus more on myself.” Yr6 pupil

I also adapted a few of the prayer space activities. Comfort Blankets – we added a craft of weaving a row or two of a new blanket to help focus thoughts or prayers for people in places where they have lost their homes due to fighting or earthquakes. (In my experience I have found that Key Stage 2 can find it easier to reflect or prayer while doing something tactile.) This might well be one of the reasons why the Forgiveness Stones activity is so meaningful and helpful.

We have the resources to have a number of the Prayer Space activities on iPods and we adapted Peace Makers to be a script spoken with added sounds and pauses of silence.

It seems to be a good idea to link at least one of the activities to the school’s Vision and Values.St Peter’s School Vision is Love Learn Shine

“The light shines in the darkness and the darkness has never put it out.”

John 1.5

We adapted Be The Light ‘If you would like take a light bulb and write or draw how you could shine for someone today.’ 

Reflecting on the week, it was striking how profoundly the pupils engaged with Big Questions, often asking questions of a personal nature.

On a personal note it was wonderful to be back in a School after Covid brought a stop to us physically being in the School. Back in June 2020 while still living in Northampton I was involved in providing a video Prayer Space which was shared with Year 6 before they moved to Secondary school. We retired to Harrogate during the two lock downs, we had to pause while I had a hip replacement so it was a real joy to work with St Peter’s C of E Primary Harrogate and a team from St Peter’s Church and St Pauls URC, as we brought a space of quiet and calm allowing children and staff to take a step away from the rush of school life and reflect on their lives and others and pray to God.

The Head has invited us to return next year to continue to support the children’s spiritual development and make a prayer space part of school life.

“I had the opportunity to visit the Prayer Space on a number of occasions with groups of children. I found it to be a place for the children to explore how they felt in a calm and positive way. Everyone who I’ve spoken to that got to have sometime in this space have only said great things about it.”

GTA staff member