Leavers services mark move to secondary school

Some of the children carrying banners as they left the cathedral after the service


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Published: 08 July 2010

Over 1,300 children, teachers and adults took part in two special services at Manchester Cathedral to celebrate their experiences of church schools and moving from primary to secondary education.

Children in the top junior year from scores of church schools participated in the celebration by singing, playing instruments, leading the prayers and parading with banners.

These special services were a first for the Diocesan Board of Education. Maurice Smith, Director of Education, said “We wanted to mark this ‘once in a lifetime’ moment for children as they move from primary to secondary school. The services gave us the opportunity to thank God for all that we have experienced at primary school and to look to the future with excitement.”

The service concluded with the loudest ‘Amen’ ever to be heard in Manchester Cathedral, with hearty participation encouraged by the Bishop of Middleton, Chair of the Board of Education.

Every child who attended received a badge, designed by Rebecca Rouch of The School of the Resurrection in Beswick, to mark their rite of passage.


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