At Great Malvern Priory last week over 600 children from 19 primary schools experienced ‘Lifepath’. With one school travelling from Shropshire to take part!
Through songs, stories and activities, children and their teachers spent a day at the Priory, learning about the building’s history while also having a chance to consider their own ‘lifepaths’. As one teacher commented: ‘it’s a chance to stop and reflect’.
During the five days, over 100 volunteers from 20 churches in Malvern and beyond (dressed as Benedictine Monks!) led the children in activities from Mediaeval Medicine (complete with leeches), to Bellringing, Prayer Journey to Spinning. The children also watched a play based on the Prodigal Son, helping ‘Ricky’ to decide whether or not to go back to his Dad, ‘Yahweh’, while being sprayed with water pistols! At the end of the day, they processed out of the Priory through clouds of bubbles and waving flags, taking home their creations from the day - brass rubbings, bookmarks, stained glass windows, bracelets, sheep with hand spun tails and much more - in especially hand-made Lifepath bags.
Philippa Lowe from Malvern Priory said: “It was an incredible week and no words can properly express the looks of awe on children’s faces on entering the Priory; the ear to ear smile breaking out as a shy youngster pulled the rope on the tower bell and it rang; the arms waving in the air to the songs; the complete immersion of the audience in the play and the total joy when the Prodigal Son returned home.”
Lifepath is an annual event at the Priory and will run next year from 24 – 28 June. Visit the Priory website greatmalvernpriory.org.uk/lifepath to book your school's place next year or sign up as a volunteer.
