Using the church building at Key Stage Two

The church can be the focus for a great deal of RE work at KS2 as well as other areas of the curriculum. The idea of symbolism can begin to be explored in greater depth and the church building is a particularly rich source of examples of this. Bible stories and stories of saints are often depicted in various ways, and of course there is the patron saint of the church.

Children at this stage need to find out the technical terms for parts of the church and its furnishings. This will introduce many aspects of the worship which takes place in the church and raise questions which will need to be followed up.

Pupils can begin to understand the antiquity of the building - often the oldest one in the area which is still in use. Imaginative work on the changes which it may have witnessed around it could contribute to both history and language work. A local study for history and geography would highlight the part it has played and does play, and may well introduce the story of other Christian buildings of differing ages. This would allow children to begin to explore the origins of the various Christian denominations and why and how they are different.

While many of the churches will be old and of historical interest, we must also remember that not all churches are in this category. If you do have a modern church building in your neighbourhood, that will have many of the same features as the old building, but you may be spared their problems. It is most helpful to allow children to see that the church building does not have to be old; the church is living and when necessary can and will continue to build to meet the needs of its people. Often there are newer additions to old churches or ways in which they have been adapted to meet changing needs, and these too can be noted.

Investigating the notices and any other leaflets which are available in the church should indicate the types of activities - worship and fellowship and study - which may take place on Sundays and during the week Flower rotas, cleaning rotas will also indicate the care that such a building needs and that people are prepared to give up their time to provide that care.

A church building is technology employed for religious ends. It is also, in many cases, the oldest continuously used building in a community and a vehicle for exploring the spiritual. What "message" does this building convey? Why did anyone go to the expense of creating such a durable, enormous building, involving all the latest technology of the time?

Areas which could be explored include the many different materials used in the church's construction, the colours of the church (including the changing colours of the liturgical year), light (the effect of stained glass windows) and sound. The outside of the building and the churchyard will supply subjects for a study of weathering while constructing a ground plan of the church, or even of the village as seen from the top of the tower, will enhance mapping skills. Whilst such lessons might not sound like "RE", they are giving children the opportunity to familiarise themselves with the building and its contents.

As well as these practical approaches, it is important to allow children the time and opportunity to experience the atmosphere of peacefulness and serenity which many of our old churches have. They need to be able to soak up some of the atmosphere in such a place. That in itself can be a moving and spiritual experience for many of them, whether they come from a religious background or not.

We must never forget that churches were created for spiritual rather than aesthetic reasons; they are objects of meditation and windows into the glory of God.

You may be able to develop a church trail near your school, or you may be fortunate enough to find one already worked out for you. If you do want to look at the possibility, you will need to find out about the type of churches which can be found, a little of their history in that area as well as in general, and it would be helpful to find out about that particular congregation and their minister or leader.