“Seeing so many children engaging with the Christian story has been a powerful experience for us all”, says Revd Fran.
Last week 28 young explorers from Minsterley Primary School stepped through the doors of their parish church, Holy Trinity, Minsterley, in the north of our diocese. Visiting the ‘Easter in a Box’ adventure, many of the children were coming into the church for the first time. The school visit was designed to bring the Easter story to life and was initiated by the school's Religious Education lead who heard about the church’s interactive ‘Messy Church’ group and wanted to introduce the children in her class to a more immersive learning experience.
Upon arrival at the local church, the children were guided through a thoughtfully prepared journey covering the key events of Holy Week. Working in small groups, they rotated between four dedicated stations, each hosted by church members who shared stories, led activities, and facilitated moments of reflection.
The Palm Sunday station allowed students to craft their own palm leaves while learning about Jesus's triumphant entry into the city of Jerusalem. At the Maundy Thursday table, they heard about the Last Supper and the significance of Holy Communion in Christian worship. A highlight for many was examining Maundy money that had been presented to a former church member—providing a connection to this ancient tradition which is bestowed by the King upon older, faithful men and women serving in their churches and communities.
Good Friday's station focused on the crucifixion. Pupils decorated crosses and reflected on themes of sacrifice. The Easter Sunday experience concluded their journey with the message of resurrection hope, celebrated through the creation of vibrant spring flowers.
At each station, the children collected items in a special box to remember their experience. They also recorded their thoughts and feelings on paper scrolls as they moved from station to station.
Revd Fran Brealey, Associate Minister in the Benefices of Pontesbury and Stiperstones, explains the importance of such initiatives in sharing the Christian message. "What makes this approach different is that children don't just hear the Easter story—they experience it through all their senses," she explained. "By creating these interactive stations, we're helping them connect with the journey Jesus took from Palm Sunday to the resurrection on Easter Sunday. We hope they leave with a much better understanding of the story but also that they will know that the message of the resurrection can still be celebrated and meaningful today. We hope that the children will be encouraged or intrigued to come back to church with their parents on other occasions."
Revd Fran goes on to add: “Many churches regularly open their doors to schools especially at this time of year, running Messy Church, Easter Trails, and other events. We were really excited to welcome Minsterley Primary School, which is not a Church of England school, to share ‘Easter in a Box’ with us.”
The school's RE lead and class teacher, Mrs Abby Prophet, expressed her thanks for the church's welcome. “The children and I had an amazing time and we are very grateful.” As the school year continues, Holy Trinity Church hopes to welcome other classes, strengthening connections between the church and the wider community while supporting educational outcomes in religious studies.
Rev Fran sums up, ”Our mission is to share God's love beyond our churches. Opening our doors like this is a great way to nurture relationships between church and school and also to plant seeds of faith and understanding that we pray will grow throughout these children's lives."
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