Precious moments for creative kids

Children from Hillmorton Primary School and St Oswald’s (CE) Primary School, both from Rugby, had a wonderful time as they took part in our Cathedral Golden Jubilee celebrations by attending one of our Jubilee workshops entitled ‘Precious’. The workshop was aimed at Early Year Foundation Stage and the children explored the story of the Cathedral Pennies.

One of the Nave windows was paid for by the children of Coventry fifty years ago. Children in schools around city collected their pennies and gave them to the Cathedral, funding one of the south Nave windows. These are orientated eastwards, so as to throw light on the high altar from the early morning sun:

(Left) The Nave Creation Window funded by the pennies donated by the children of Coventry circa 1958.

As children walked around the Cathedral (eyes wide in wonder at this vast and colourful place) with one of our Schools’ Team guides, they not only heard this story but also looked at the pennies in the Cathedral floor:

These pennies are set in the marble floor to guide those processing up the Cathedral isle – such as the choir boys and girls.

Children pretended to be choir boys and girls byfollowing the pennies themselves, letting them guide their way to the choir stalls and high altar.

To complement the walk around the Cathedral building, the children created their own Jubilee penny – putting an image of themselves on the back of the coin (below) to symbolise how they are precious, just as the Queen in the year of her Diamond Jubilee is precious.

The window paid for by the children of Coventry, speaks of the emergence of life in all its fullness and of the joy of birth and childhood. In response to this window, children were encouraged to create their own stained glass window - this beautiful butterfly below is an example of the work of our 3 to 5 year olds:

The EYFS Precious workshop was enjoyed by children, staff and Cathedral schools’ team volunteers and we look forward to repeating the workshop in the week beginning 17^th September…

Please be part of it and book now!

For more information contact:

Anna Hill

Schools’ Team (Monday & Tuesday)

Coventry Cathedral

Anna.Hill@coventrycathedral.org.uk.

024 7652 1221