For four days in June over 400 school children came to the first ever Lifepath event at Great Malvern Priory to learn more about the life of a monk.
Lifepath is an interactive community event, run by Scripture Union with local volunteers and churches. The event saw almost 40 volunteers give up their time to act as ‘pilgrim guides’, run workshops and act as stewards.
Lifepath was designed as a school trip for primary age pupils, allowing them to explore the life of a notable Christian figure in history, through music, drama, storytelling, craft, art, humour, and games.
While at the Priory they learned about how the monks lived, how they cared for the sick, and how they prayed. The children also got the chance to try calligraphy, bell ringing and brass rubbing. Each day ended with the children being invited to add a stone to a cairn by a wooden cross to show that they had followed a Lifepath.
The objective of Lifepath is broader than learning history: its aim is to explore the past to make sense of the present, and to learn about the importance of faith for the path of life today. Lifepath uses themes of pilgrimage, living, serving, praying and believing which are explored in schools’ RE syllabus.
Lifepath was conceived by Piers and Fran Lane. Piers is Scripture Union’s staff member for Yorkshire and the north east of England. Fran is a Methodist minister in the Bedale area. The first Lifepath was held in Durham Cathedral in 2003 and attracted 2,000 children from schools in County Durham, north Yorkshire and Tyne & Wear.
ENDS
Notes to editors:
1. Lifepath Great Malvern took place from Monday June 23 to Thursday June 26.
2. There are six Lifepath events being held in 2008 throughout England and Wales.
3. More information about Lifepath can be found at http://www.scriptureunion.org.uk/Lifepath