Churches Project: Teachers' Notes

TARGETS

• Be aware of local church buildings and their association with Sunday worship and special occasions such as baptism, weddings and funerals.
• Show some knowledge and understanding of the design and furnishings of church buildings of different traditions and their function in the worship that takes place there, making comparisons of what is both shared and distinctive between them.
• To understand that a "church" is a community of Christians and ways in which the wider church community share together in expressing their common faith (e.g. Churches Together, joint services, projects and events).

PERSONAL SEARCH

To explore why Christians choose to be involved in the church community, e.g.: in worship: feelings of joy, thoughtfulness, awe, repentance; Bible teaching for personal guidance and encouragement; rights and responsibilities of belonging, pastoral care, mutual support, giving, practical help.

• What activities did members of the local church run to make a difference to the wider community? (e.g. after school clubs, meals on wheels etc.)
• Why do members run youth clubs, Sunday School, parent and toddler groups, community meals etc.?
• What did they think motivated Christians to belong to their church community?
• What did pupils feel a member of each Christian group might find attractive about their tradition?

BEFORE THE VISIT

Use the RE:Quest website ('Churches - Church Buildings' and 'Do What - Worship') to prepare the pupils beforehand. Discuss what kind of things to look for or questions to ask. Pupils could suggest reasons why Christians go to church, and identify important features. Introduce pupils to the concept of worship and discuss how and why Christians worship. Discuss how respect can be shown on the visit.

DURING THE VISIT

Pupils could photograph, sketch and describe key features within each building, and draw a simple plan showing where they can be found. They could make notes about books, posters and notice-boards and collect copies of church magazines, news-sheets, Bible reading notes etc. (arrange this beforehand!) to find out about what happens in services and other activities.

They can discover what is important to the people there.
What do they do in the community?
What charities and causes do they support?
They could ask Christians what going to church and being a Christian means to them and record responses. Ask about joining, baptism, dedications, communion, worship, confirmation and Bible teaching.

Pupils might experience a time of stillness and quiet reflection and listen to Christian music, a reading from the Bible or a prayer. Pupils could identify words to describe the atmosphere of the church, and discuss occasions when they had similar feelings.

AFTER THE VISIT

Pupils could build up a class book of the visit, working through the questions on the "extension work" sheet and using the "churches" sections for further information including their photographs, diagrams and sketches as well as photographs of the members interviewed. They could discuss the issues raised and record their personal and collective conclusions. They could make a classroom display of artifacts and accompanying explanations, paintings and drawings.