Back to School Sunday 2026

As a new school year begins, Back to School Sunday (#B2SS) offers a missional opportunity to celebrate, give thanks, worship, and pray for the children, teachers, school staff, parents, and schools in your community. It is a chance to offer encouragement, hope and support as the new term gets underway.

Whether you include a special prayer in your regular worship, invite children to bring their school bags for a blessing, or build a service around the theme, Back to School Sunday is a wonderful opportunity to encourage those connected with your local schools and remind them that they are valued, supported and held in prayer. It can also help strengthen relationships with schools and create opportunities to connect with families in your parish.

We’ve put together a collection of resources to help you mark the occasion, including:

• service themes and ideas
• prayers and prayer activities
• school bag/backpack blessings
• creative activities for children and families
• suggestions for engaging with local schools.

Each of the resources can be adapted to fit your church tradition and local context.

Access the Back to School Sunday resources here:

If you would like support in planning a Back to School Sunday service or event, please contact Rick Otto at rickotto@manchester.anglican.org

Let’s take this opportunity to pray God’s blessing on the year ahead for everyone involved in our schools.