A class of Year 6 pupils from Stibbard All Saints CEVA Primary School have added sprucing up the local church to their extracurricular learning activities, with the result being overwhelmingly positive for all parties.
In the run-up to an event celebrating the 700th anniversary of All Saints church in Stibbard, class teacher Clare Budgett arranged for pupils – all armed with dusters and brooms – to help get the space looking its best for the big day.
Now, a matter of weeks on, the children have returned for another cleaning session as well as to learn more about the history of the church.
The enthusiasm on show from the children taking part was plain for all to see during the second visit, with some sharing their thoughts on why it is so important to get involved in activities of this kind.
Poppy, a member of the Year 6 class at All Saints Primary, said:
“It’s really enjoyable when the whole community comes together. This church has been open for over 700 years so it feels like an honour to tidy up a place that is so special.”
Jacob, another member of the class who really enjoys this new volunteering opportunity, added:
“I would definitely recommend this to all other Year 6 classes. This is God’s palace and we need to keep it clean!”
While its great news for the church to have a new generation of volunteers happy to help with day-to-day maintenance of this kind, visits to the church also provide a broad range of educational opportunities.
Assessing the benefits for the pupils involved, Mrs Budgett said:
“It’s a brilliant chance for the children to learn more about the church and the village’s history, while also giving back to the community.
“We all really value coming along to church and, with some pupils being from Stibbard and others travelling from further afield, everyone has a slightly different connection to this place.”
All Saints church in Stibbard relies heavily on the dedication of volunteers, with PCC Member Susan Moore spearheading a forward-thinking approach to attracting fresh support.
In addition to the primary school link-up, Susan enlists new helpers through sharing Facebook community adverts and also helps raise funds through activities such as a bring-and-buy sale running inside the church.
There will be an article focused on the tireless work of volunteers within the parish in the upcoming Prayer Diary, which will be published in March.
Find out more about what’s on at All Saints, Stibbard via the church’s Facebook page.