Prayer spaces

Prayer spaces in schools enable children and young people, of all faiths and none, to explore life questions, spirituality and faith in a safe, creative and interactive way.

Introducing prayer spaces

Children and young people are naturally curious about life; the good, the bad, the deeper questions of purpose and meaning that are part of growing up, and about spiritual things like God and prayer too.

Prayer spaces give pupils an opportunity to reflect on these themes and in particular to explore prayer for themselves in an engaging, creative and interactive environment that is rooted in a Christian worldview, yet inclusive and welcoming of all.

Learning about prayer by doing

Learning about prayer by doing

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Learning about prayer by doing

A prayer space is a creative, interactive and engaging learning environment where pupils are encouraged to explore and discover prayer for themselves. Each activity begins with a familiar, everyday experience such as expressing gratitude, saying sorry, experiencing wonder or asking life’s big questions, and invites pupils to reflect and respond in a way that is personal and meaningful to them.

Creating inclusive environments

Creating inclusive environments

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Creating inclusive environments

Whilst rooted in a Christian understanding of prayer, every prayer space is designed to be inclusive and welcoming to all pupils, whatever they believe. Pupils are encouraged to engage at their own pace, explore the experience in a way that is meaningful to them, and draw their own conclusions about prayer and spirituality.

 

Partnering with schools and teachers

Partnering with schools and teachers

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Partnering with schools and teachers

Prayer spaces are planned and hosted by local Christians – whether volunteers from a local church or Christian organization, chaplains, school staff, or even pupils themselves. They are created to support the pastoral and spiritual life of the entire school community, offering a space that nurtures reflection, well-being and personal growth.

Spiritual relationships

Prayer spaces are inherently spiritual. One way to understand spirituality is by exploring four key relationships that are fundamental to human experience and are often reflected in the practice of prayer. These relationships can be described as follows:
Me and myself

Identity, self-image and purpose

Helping children and young people to love themselves, to find peace with who they are.

Me and others

Relationships and reconciliation

Celebrating relationships and inspiring restoration and healing where these are broken.

Me and the world

Wonder and justice

Appreciating and caring for the world we live in, and responding to injustice

Me and God

The sacred or divine

Asking big questions, being still, connecting with God

Making space for prayer

Creating opportunities to explore prayer can involve setting up a single prayer activity somewhere in the school, or filling a hall with lots of activities; and a prayer space can last for a lunchtime or for a whole year.
Classroom

Classroom

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Classroom

Many prayer spaces are set up for a few days in a classroom or a small hall with enough prayer activities to keep a whole class engaged for a lesson. These can also be open to pupils to visit during break or lunch time.
Pop-up

Pop-up

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Pop-up

A prayer space can be as simple as a single prayer activity, available for a day or for part of a day, in a place where anyone can use it during their break times. These often link with an occasion or event that the school is celebrating or remembering. This can also be a way to introduce prayer space activities for the first time.
Outdoors

Outdoors

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Outdoors

Prayer spaces can be set up in a natural environment, with activities that use objects you can find outside like sticks and stones, clouds and sunshine. Many people say they feel closer to God when they are in nature and an outdoor prayer space engages this instinctive response.
Permanent

Permanent

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Permanent

Permanent prayer spaces are available for people to use whenever school is open, whether in the corner of a classroom, a hall, a library or in a designated room. The best permanent prayer spaces are ‘curated’, looked after by someone who can nurture the spiritual and prayerful purpose of the space.

Planning your prayer space

We’ve got everything you need to get started.

Our national teams provide a range of resources and training to support you in setting up a prayer space. Each national website includes helpful ‘Getting Started’ guides and a comprehensive library of prayer activities, organised by theme and topic, to help you create a space that is both meaningful and engaging for your school community.

See example activities

Prayer Spaces in your nation

Want to get involved? Connect with our Prayer Spaces in Schools national coordinators, teams and friends around the world.
Find your nation

Filled in the gaps

I sort of feel like… it made me feel like… whole. It filled in the gaps.

I love it

I really enjoyed this, it made me cry with happiness. I am very grateful and I wish I could experience it more often. I would recommend this to other people.

Safe space

When I go into the prayer space it feels like I don’t have to worry about anything.

Really fun!

It was really fun. It made me see God everywhere I look

I liked everything

I liked everything. It let me open myself and be me, not something that’s not me.