Schools Celebrated at Cathedral

Over a thousand children with their teachers visited Salisbury Cathedral for the annual primary school leavers’ week events to celebrate the end of their primary school journey, and to look to their future with confidence.

Taking part in art and drama workshops, culminating in worship and an interactive performance led by RiseTheatre, the children brought creativity, joy and noise to the Cathedral.

“You may be small, but with God you can grow” Bishop Karen told the youngsters at the address at their service. 

To a chorus of “inside me is a miracle, smallest seeds and mighty trees, greatest gifts in the smallest of places”, the children reflected on their journey so far and shared in prayers to grow in love, taking their knowledge, skills and talents with them, whatever the challenges ahead. 

“Welcoming over 66 Church of England primary schools from across Wiltshire and Dorset, stretching from Marlborough to Weymouth”, said the Revd Canon Ed Probert, Acting Dean, “this celebration is a wonderful opportunity to welcome children to what is their cathedral, helping them to grow and build on their achievements.” 

The event, organised annually by the Diocesan Board of Education and the Cathedral, strengthens relationships between church schools and the Cathedral, helping schools affirm their distinctively Christian nature, and is a reflection of the Diocese of Salisbury’s long history of education across the two counties. With parents and family invited to watch, the children were able to make new friends from other schools, and know that whatever the future - new schools, exams and growing up - that God stays with them always. 

A child from a Salisbury primary school, St Martin’s, reflected on the meaning of the event and the passage of time with this prayer: 

“Today, I close the door to the past,
Open the door to the future
Take a deep breath,
Step on through, and
Start a new life”