Flourish - our exciting programme to grow new missional communities in schools is drawing international attention, as Chester Diocese's Flourish Coordinator, Sue Pocock reports:
Graeme and Karen Jolliffe from Nowra, Australia stopped by to visit us on a world tour of faith-based schools where they are looking at how schools disciple their young people and develop young leaders.
Graeme is headmaster of Nowra Christian school and the National Church Flourish team had put them in touch with Chester Diocese to visit some of our new and exciting Flourish new missional communities.
I took them to visit Tarporley Primary school were they met with Kerry Forrester the head, Rev Jim Bridgman vicar of St Helens church and Debbie Wood their schools Flourish worker along with the children's ethos leadership team. The children talked to Graeme and Karen about what they do in Flourish, how they plan their services and what they are learning through the process. We then joined the whole school for their collective worship when Rev Jim officially opened the school playground prayer space. We finished our time at the school with Graeme reading the Dormice (reception) class a lovely story 'Diary of a Wombat'. Leaving the book as a gift to the school.
We then continued our journey to St Chads CofE school in Winsford. Here again Graeme and Karen talked to the children's ethos group and Cath Speed the head about the process of setting up Flourish and their learning, sadly Rev Callum Boothroyd, was unable to join us as he was on holiday. They shared wonderful stories of the inter-generational heart of Flourish, that they have a close connection to a local care home through the Archbishop of York young leader award. Residents have loved joining in with the Flourish services after school where the children share the good news about Jesus through worship, prayer, drama and activities.
Graeme and Karen joined St Chads school in their collective worship time and after a tour of the school, gifted Cath with a lovely book 'Wombat Stew' as a reminder of their visit. Graeme reflected that they had learnt so much from their visits and they were very impressed by the children's creativity and leadership skills and the passion and love of their communities shown by the teachers and local church.
Flourish Coordinator, Sue Pocock is a member of our Outreach Team at Church House.
