The simple tomb of Sir Winston Churchill can be found in the grounds of St Martin. He was buried here in 1965 after the last non-royal state funeral in Britain. He shares the cemetery with his wife, Clementine, his mother and other members of the Churchill family.
Religious Education
Religious Education
Religious education in the UK is a prime subject in secular schools, as well as church schools. Christian beliefs, doctrines and rituals are central, but teaching about other religions is also part of the syllabus, as well as reference to not having a religion at all. And some schools are allowed to teach other religions as their prime object – Judaism, Islam, Hinduism being examples.
The teaching of Religious Education can benefit from a variety of different experiences outside the classroom. Each religion has its own traditions and schools will have their own needs and wants in terms of relating each religion to the other. Teachers should be aware that religion and particularly places of worship can be sensitive and taking a large group of noisy children into such an environment will take plenty of forethought and planning.
Some ideas and tips for planning such trips include...
Before you go:
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Make initial contact: find out if you can visit and when is the best time – both for you and the faith community concerned.
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Preliminary visit: Try to visit the faith community yourself to explore learning opportunities and to discuss your needs with the person who will be involved in the visit. Share with him/her what you hope pupils will get out of the visit. Clearly planned aims help to fit the visit into a scheme of work. A general ‘look around’ is the least likely activity to be successful. If possible try to arrange for the pupils to meet some believers other than the ordained leaders. Talk about how long you will stay. As a rule of thumb, under an hour is usually too short to make the most of the learning opportunity.
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Get parental permission: Schools should send a letter home with each pupil to make clear that this is an educational visit and that pupils will observe, not participate, in worship. Invite parents and other adults to help out on the visit.
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Prepare pupils: It is likely to be a completely new situation for them. Provide guidance about appropriate attitudes and any dress requirements such as removing shoes, covering heads. Encourage pupils to ask and respond to questions during the visit. Talk over, in advance, questions they may wish to ask during the visit. Identify ways in which the visit will be followed up back in the classroom.
Some key points to remember when visiting faith communities:
- Dress: in addition to any specific requirements, modest dress is the usual guideline. Shoes are removed before entering the prayer rooms of the Mosque, Mandir, Gurdwara and Buddhist Vihara. Check specific requirements when organising the visit – the following are the usual practice: Mosque: Female: Head, legs, arms covered. Male: Heads covered during prayer time. Gurdwara: Female: Head and legs covered. Male: Head covering. No cigarettes to be taken into the Gurdwara.
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Photographs: many places of worship will allow photographs to be taken at the appropriate time but prior permission should be sought.
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Behaviour: normal good behaviour standards are appropriate. In all places of worship it would be disrespectful to chew, talk loudly, run around or touch things without invitation. In places where sitting on a carpeted floor is usual, it is disrespectful to sit with legs open facing the focal point e.g. a deity, a holy book, Qibla wall etc.
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Hospitality: a number of places of worship will show hospitality to visitors by offering food or refreshment. It is important to prepare pupils for this: Hindu: prashad – this may take the form of crystal sugar, almonds, sweets or snack food. It is not sacred and should be accepted with thanks and eaten on the spot. Gurdwara: Kara prashad – a semi-solid cold food made from butter, semolina, sugar and milk, or a cup of tea boiled with milk. This is not a sacred food and should be accepted with thanks. Kara prashad can be kept for eating later.
- Donations: places of worship do not, as a rule, charge for visits, but a donation is recommended.
It is possible to arrange visits to local churches, chapels, mosques, temples and synagogues. Most of the cathedrals have education or visitor centres and resources for schools which can be viewed on their websites.
Main organisations:
The Religious Education Council
National Association of Teachers of Religious Education
Inclusion: NASEN
Thought of visiting?
Venues for this Curriculum
Impressive ruins of a Cistercian abbey, including its unusually unaltered 12th century church, beautiful vaulted and tile-floored chapter house, and recently re-opened crypt chapel.
Situated in a wooded Severn-side setting, not far from the Iron Bridge and Wenlock Priory.
Women's rights pioneer Mary Wollstonecraft (d. 1797) and her husband William Godwin (d. 1836), were buried here, along with their daughter, Mary Shelley (d. 1851), the author of Frankenstein, and the heart of her husband, Percy Shelley (d. 1822). Other graves include that of the inventor of the Bailey bridge, Sir Ronald Bailey (d. 1985).
The Conduit House is part of the monastic waterworks which supplied nearby St Augustine's Abbey.
The remains of this medieval conduit house stand in King’s Park, Canterbury, on a steep west-facing hillside to the east of St Augustine’s Abbey, whose spring water supply it was built to protect.
The Cathedral of St, Mary & St Anne, known locally as the North Cathedral is located at the top of Shandon Street, in one of the most historic areas of Cork. The Cathedral is the principal church of the diocese of Cork & Ross and is the place where major diocesan celebrations take place. The Cathedral was dedicated in 1808 and celebrated its bicentenary in 2008.
Explore the fascinating remnants of one of the great monastic foundations of the Middle Ages at this important site, based in the historic market town of Waltham Abbey.
The Abbey is set in 37 acres of beautifully peaceful parkland in the centre of the ancient market town of Glastonbury. It is traditionally the first Christian sanctuary in Great Britain, visited, so legend has it, by Joseph of Arimathea and Saints David & Patrick.
Ancient church with world famous stained glass
The spire of St Mary’s is one of the tallest in England and for over 500 years it has dominated the skyline of Shrewsbury's old town. In 1739, showman Robert Cadman attempted to slide from it, head first, using a rope and a grooved breastplate. His engraved obituary stands outside the west door. The church is now the only complete Medieval church in Shrewsbury.
Clonfert Cathedral is a cathedral of the Church of Ireland in the Irish town of Clonfert in County Galway.
A centre of learning offering education in a number of different ways
We have an Education and Pilgrimage centre, Ty'r Pererin, which was officially opened on 4 March 2013. Click here for more information about the new centre.
An educational trip to Wells Cathedral will inform and inspire. Enhance your pupils understanding of special places, inspirational buildings, historical events and Christian theology by bringing your pupils to Wells Cathedral.
A Programmed Day
St Anne's Cathedral has stood for over 100 years as a place of Christian worship in the heart of the City of Belfast. Probably the most important visual art in the Cathedral are the mosaics (seven years work by two sisters Gertrude and Margaret Martin), the carved stonework (sculpted by Rosamond Praeger, Morris Harding and Esmond Burton), the many fine stained glass windows, the carefully sourc
Fragments of the church and monastic buildings of the first Cistercian abbey in England, founded in 1128.
The ruins of Waverley Abbey are situated in a peaceful loop of the River Wey, and still give an impression of the solitude experienced by the monks who founded a monastery here almost 900 years ago.
Prominent hill overlooking the Isle of Avalon, Glastonbury and Somerset
This iconic and evocative landmark offers magnificent views of the Somerset Levels, Dorset, Wiltshire and Wales.
Steeped in history and legend, excavations at the top of the Tor have revealed the plans of two superimposed churches of St Michael, of which only a 15th-century tower remains.
This fascinating tourist attraction is home to over 2,800 burials dating from Anglo-Saxon to Victorian times. Located in North Lincolnshire, St Peter’s Church is both an archaeological and architectural treasure trove waiting for you to discover.
For a memorable day out in Sussex explore Battle Abbey and Battlefield, the site of the 1066 Battle of Hastings. Discover more about the most famous date in English history while walking in the steps of King Harold and William the Conqueror.
In Aberdeen on 14 November 1784 Samuel Seabury of Connecticut was consecrated Bishop for America, the first Bishop outside the British isles of what we now call the Anglican Communion. A plaque in the Quadrangle of Marischal College commemorates this notable event.
Galway Cathedral is the seat of the Bishop of the Roman Catholic Diocese of Galway, Kilmacduagh & Kilfenora. The word "cathedral" is derived from the Greek "kathedra", meaning a seat; and indeed this seat is to be found within the sanctuary of the Cathedral.
Our full title is “The Cathedral Church of St Mary in Edinburgh”. Ever since the earliest times, the Christian Church has been divided into geographical areas known as dioceses. Every Diocese has its own Bishop, whose duty it is to teach, lead and care for the clergy and people of the Diocese, acting as Christ’s primary representative to them
The Cathedral Church of Saint Joseph – also known as St Joseph's Cathedral or Swansea Cathedral – is a Roman Catholic cathedral in Swansea
Visit one of England’s loveliest cathedrals with medieval cloisters, royal tombs, and an ancient crypt to explore. Guided tours available, including one to the top of the tower. Free to visit, but there is a charge for the tours.
The Cathedral has been the Mother Church of the diocese of Kildare and Leighlin since it was built in 1833. It is also the parish church of the Cathedral Parish, the place where people gather to celebrate liturgies, to worship, and to share the joys and sorrows of the Christian community.
North Down Museum tells the story of the North Down area from the Bronze Age to the present day, each exhibition is dedicated to a particular era of local history. Key artefacts on display include the Bronze Age Ballycroghan Swords, the Bangor Bell from the important Bangor Abbey settlement and the Raven Maps, the only complete folio of Plantation era maps in Ireland.
The first Cathedral on this site dates from the 12th century when Turlough O’Conor was High King of Ireland (1111-1156). This marked the establishment of Tuam as the seat of an Archbishop following the Synod of Kells in 1152. This first Cathedral was destroyed by fire in 1184 and the site was abandoned for almost 100 years.
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