Recently, St Mary Magdalene in Islington held their first Prayer Space. The Revd April Keech, the Chaplain, shares the impact of the prayer space on pupils who visited.
St Mary Magdalene is a Church of England academy with a primary, secondary, sixth form and a unit for pupils ages 14 to 18 with autism. There is a small chapel where the prayer space was created by fabric separating three areas. Given that the chapel space is usually for pastoral and chapel games clubs, pupils were surprised when they arrived during the prayer week, but immediately participated in the various stations set up for contemplation.
I quietly relished watching secondary students move their hands through sand, making hand prints remembering their creative uniqueness. Or exploring stones and water at the forgiveness station. But the prayer wall provided the most popular outlet to express hopes, fears, anger, prayers, quotes as well as the boxes for concerns and thanksgivings. Some pupils paused quietly as they remembered someone who meant something to them at the candle station. Surprisingly, pupils came back over several days to the various stations. And several secluded themselves to colour on the London colouring table.
I am very thankful to the various youth workers from Urban Hope, XLP and St Mary’s Upper Street who sat and quietly participated in various stations as well. One thought, written by a young person, about missing the grandparents they never knew, resonated with a staff member who later read it.
When I dismantled the Prayer Space, several students asked when we could have it again. So indeed, it will happen again with some new ideas and familiar ones. Prayer space: a quiet journey of spirituality and hope.
The Revd April Keech is Chaplain of St Mary Magdalene Academy.
If you’d like more information about running a Prayer Space in your local school, then contact Catherine Clayton at prayer.spaces@london.anglican.org. Our partnership with Prayer Spaces in Schools means that we can support you in setting up spaces with time, advice and resources.