Our first lunchtime prayer club was planted in Sir Robert Geffery’s School, Landrake, Cornwall on 29 April 2021.
It was just after the Covid lockdowns and sixteen children attended. Five years on from the success of that first prayer club, we have continued to plant prayer clubs in Church schools across England and Wales. The clubs are planted by Chris Andrew, a licensed Church of England minister and take place during lunchtime for fifteen minutes. Children choose to attend. An adult who can be a parent, school staff or from the local church continue to run the prayer clubs after we finish in school. Prayer clubs have been successfully run by children from year 6 across the whole academic year. The aspiration are that prayer clubs link together the local church, homes and school in a new and exciting way. Prayer clubs do continue to flourish and grow long after we have left school.
Watch our inspiring short film on Lunchtime Prayer Clubs around England and Wales
Jayne Pavlou, Deputy Director of Education (LDBS) endorses the legacy of prayer clubs for schools in the Diocese of London.
“Many pupils choose to attend voluntary lunchtime prayer groups which provide them with a quiet space to be still, reflect and pray.They appreciate the opportunity to pray about things that matter to their school community, as well as issues in their wider world. This valuable lunchtime provision supports the spiritual flourishing of all who attend.”
He told them another parable: “The kingdom of heaven is like a mustard seed, which a man took and planted in his field. Though it is the smallest of all seeds, yet when it grows, it is the largest of garden plants and becomes a tree, so that the birds come and perch in its branches.”
Matthew 13.31-32
