Pupils from Much Birch Primary School visited their local church, St Mary and St Thomas a Becket Church on Monday, April 18th, to find out more about the building, and the role it has to play in the community.

Lesley Gare, a parishioner of the church, came up with the plan to put on the Children’s Church Trail. She told the Ross Gazette that she is concerned that fewer and fewer people attend church, and she hopes that by allowing the children to learn more about it, and the part it continues to play within the community, this would show them that it is a friendly place where they will always be welcome.

Lesley is also a member of the Ross Decorative and Fine Arts Society (DFAS) and they sponsored and supported the event.

The trail was also compiled by Sarah Dean, Kay and Peter Garlick. Sarah, Kay and Peter all hold strong connections with the school. Sarah told the Gazette that she had arranged the funding for minibuses to take the children safely to the church. She explained that although the school is linked with the church, a main road, the A49 divides them, so the pupils do not often get the chance to go to the church.

The year 3 pupils who visited the church on Monday morning completed worksheets, with illustrations by Peter. The illustrations highlighted the various items around the church that the children had to find and answer questions on.

The children all seemed to thoroughly enjoy their morning in the Church, and they engaged enthusiastically with the session. Several parishioners, as well as members of DFAS and the class teachers from the school were also on hand to help the children when needed.