A new ministry in Ross-on-Wye – funding Christian children’s books for school libraries
Janet Nelson and husband Nick have embarked on a new ministry, donating Christian books to the school libraries around Ross-on-Wye. It all started a few years ago, when their nearest Christian bookshop, in Newent, closed down. In searching for another shop, they came across Bridge Books in Exeter. Janet saw that Bridge Books had a ‘Library Ministry’ providing Christian books to school libraries, and a new calling was born. Books have now been delivered to three primary schools in Ross and, most recently, to John Kyrle High School. The Ross Gazette https://www.rossgazette.com/news/christian-books-donation-enriches-john-kyrle-highs-library-892732 covered the High School donation last week. Emily Goy, the diocese’s Lifelink Chaplain at the school, worked closely with Janet on organising the donation.
“A box of books for a primary school costs £250 and for a secondary school it’s £500. It’s a significant amount but it’s achievable for local fundraisers and very effective,” explains Janet. “At first we made the donations anonymously, but as we began this in our diocesan Year of Engagement, it became important to us that the books are presented to the school by the church,” she continues. “We liaise first with the school’s headteacher, to make sure the books will be welcomed into the library, not hidden away in an RE room or staff room. We want children to be able to choose Christian books for themselves if they want to.”
The project is led by Janet and Nick, together with local Open The Book leader Pauline Leggate, and Anne Morris, part of the Lay Ministry team responsible for "Inspiring Faith in schools" for Ross parish. With other parishioners they help to fundraise by hosting coffee mornings and selling marmalade. Janet is a long-standing member of the Bible Society, and sees this new ministry as an extension of the society’s mission to put scripture into people’s hands. “Not all the books are based on bible stories, though,” she says. “There are so many wonderful new children’s books with a Christian message. There’s a Bible for Minecrafters, comic strip bibles, young adult novels – so many to choose from.”
So far, they have stayed close to home, with donations to Walford Primary School, Brampton Abbotts Church of England Primary School, Ashfield Park Primary School and John Kyrle High School, but they are branching out to other schools around the deanery.
If you are interested in finding out more or want to donate books to your local school, you can visit the Bridge Books website or contact Janet by email. You can also email the owners of Bridge Books, Gary and Mary Lee.