Four parishes have found a creative way of inviting members of their communities and children at their local schools to engage with the events of Holy Week by setting up a Way of the Cross across their churchyards with artwork by local children and audio reflections by their ministers.
The four churches of the Bradgate Group (the parishes of Glenfield and Newtown Linford and Anstey and Thurcaston with Cropston) and six primary schools (The Hall School, Glenfield, Glenfield Primary School, Latimer School, Anstey, Woolden Hill, Anstey, The Richard Hill School, Thurcaston, and Newton Linford Primary School) worked together to produce a Stations of the Cross trail using childrens’ artwork.
As well as bible verses displayed alongside each artwork, twelve ministers, lay and ordained, from the four churches recorded reflections for each station, which people walking the trail can access by QR code or on St Peter’s website.
The trail begins in the churchyard of St Peter’s Glenfield, where there are three reflection stations, continues at Anstey, and Thurcaston and ends in Newton Linford.
Revd Richard Trethewey, Rector of St Peter’s, Glenfield and All Saints’, Newton Linford, said, “My benefice did something similar back in 2021 when due to lockdown we couldn’t gather to worship so we put the stations up, largely created by members of the church on that occasion, so that members of the wider community could engage with the events of Holy Week.
“This time we wanted to extend partnerships so discussed with Revd Matthew Gough at Anstey and Thurcaston about joining together to do it, and then we both invited all the primary schools in our parishes – of which just one is a church school – with which we have worked hard to build good relationships over many years to take part.
“They were all keen to be involved, and different classes – largely ones which were focussing on Easter in RE – took responsibility for producing two images each to accompany recorded audio reflections, which are accessible by QR code. Some astonishingly evocative art was produced, drawing people to deeper reflection on Jesus’ sacrifice.”
Revd Matthew Gough, Rector of St Mary's, Anstey and All Saints' Church Thurcaston with Cropston, said, "It has proven a lovely way to work with our local primary schools and provides an interesting trail activity for the children and their families to engage with over the school holiday period connecting the Easter narrative in a personal and local way."