The award-winning St Mungo Museum, named after Glasgow's patron saint, is home to inspiring displays of artefacts and stunning works of art exploring the importance of religion in peoples’ lives across the world and across time.
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
A fascinating Victorian garden cemetery adjacent to Glasgow Cathedral.
Cross the bridge from the Cathedral precinct to the Necropolis, a spectacular Victorian cemetery that is now home to many wildlife species. Take time to explore the precinct and get an insight into Glasgow’s long and turbulent history and its medieval roots.
The Cathedral of St Mungo, patron saint of Glasgow, originates from the 13th century and is the finest surviving Gothic building in Scotland the only major cathedral on the Scottish mainland to survive the Reformation.
Standing almost in the shadow of Lincoln cathedral, with sweeping views over the ancient city and the countryside beyond, the medieval bishops’ palace was once among the most important buildings in the country. The administrative centre of the largest diocese in medieval England, stretching from the Humber to the Thames, its architecture reflected enormous power and wealth.
Welcome to St Ninian’s Cathedral, situated in the fair city of Perth in the heart of Scotland and is in the diocese of St Andrews, Dunkeld and Dunblane. St Ninian’s belongs to the Scottish Episcopal Church and is home to a lively, caring congregation of people from many different backgrounds.
The most accomplished piece of Renaissance architecture left in Scotland.
Located near the spectacular St Magnus Cathedral, these palaces are regarded as two of the finest examples of architecture in Scotland and highlight Orkney’s close Norse and ecclesiastical links.
A particular attraction is the magnificent monumental fireplace in the great hall of the Earl’s Palace, built about 1600.
Highlights
St Magnus Cathedral known as the 'Light in the North' was founded in 1137 by the Viking, Earl Rognvald, in honour of his uncle St Magnus. The Cathedral belongs to the people of Orkney and its doors are open to all. The Cathedral, set in the heart of Kirkwall, the capital city of the Orkney Islands, is a place of stillness, of inspiration, of warmth, and is steeped in the presence of God.
Our Cathedral Church is the main place of worship in the Catholic Diocese of Aberdeen. It was opened in December 1860 as the principal Catholic Church in the west end of the city, replacing St. Peter's Church in the Castlegate, when there were about 1,000 Catholics out of a population of 74,000 and the number of Catholics was increasing.
The Cathedral Church of St Andrew is a Catholic cathedral in the West End of the city of Dundee, Scotland.
Welcome to St Paul’s Cathedral. At St Paul’s, you will find a living and lively faith community right in the heart of Dundee’s vibrant city centre. Our community is made up of a diverse group of people ranging from those who have been born and bred in Dundee to people from all over the world who come to Dundee for work or study at one of the two excellent universities that the city boasts.
Find out what life was like in Northern Ireland during the Second World War!
This magnificent High Victorian Anglican church was designed in the 1870s by the flamboyant architect William Burges, and has been called his 'ecclesiastical masterpiece'. The extravagantly decorated interior displays coloured marble, stained glass, a splendid organ, and painted and gilded figures in all their original glory.
Welcome to the Cathedral Church of the Holy Trinity, close to which we believe the mortal remains of Saint Patrick lie buried. However the cathedral is not merely a tourist attraction but it is a place of pilgrimage and prayer for all people.
Saint Patrick’s Church of Ireland Cathedral stands on the hill from which the City of Armagh derives its name – Ard Macha; the hill of Macha. Less than half a mile away, on the adjoining hill, is our sister St Patrick’s Roman Catholic Cathedral.
This fine Elizabethan mansion features some of the earliest external Renaissance architectural detail in the country, and two rare and outstanding sets of 16th century wall paintings of mythical and Biblical subjects.
Hill Hall has now been divided into private houses, but parts remain open to the public by prior arrangement.
The classic Neolithic 'causewayed enclosure', with three concentric but intermittent ditches. Large quantities of animal bones found here indicate feasting, animal trading or rituals, or perhaps all three. Part of the Avebury World Heritage Site.
Early in the 12th century, Donal Mor O'Brien, founder of St Mary's Cathedral in Limerick , built a church in Killaloe. Between 1195 and 1225 it was replaced by the present cathedral which was dedicated to St Flannan, an 8th century ancestor of Donal Mor.
The largest man-made mound in Europe, mysterious Silbury Hill compares in height and volume to the roughly contemporary Egyptian pyramids. Probably completed in around 2400 BC, it apparently contains no burial. Though clearly important in itself, its purpose and significance remain unknown. There is no access to the hill itself.
York Minster invites everyone to discover God's love through our welcome, worship, learning and work. For over a millennium, people have come to seek inspiration in this place of wonder.
Longthorpe Tower displays one of the most complete and important sets of 14th century domestic wall paintings in northern Europe. This varied 'spiritual encyclopaedia' of worldly and religious subjects includes the Wheel of Life, the Nativity and King David.
The award winning Tower Museum is located within the city's walls at Union Hall Place. The Museum has two main exhibitions ("Story of Derry" and "La Trinidad Valancera- An Armada Shipwreck ") and hosts a wide programme of touring exhibitions and events throughout the year.
STA Travel is the world’s largest travel company for teachers, students and young people. With over 35 years’ experience STA Travel Education organises safe, secure and exciting tailor-made trips for Schools, Colleges and Universities.
Remains of a former Benedictine abbey
Once an island in the Fens, this charming former gatehouse is all that remains of the oldest English and once great Benedictine abbey at Ramsey.
An ornately carved exterior with a glorious oriel window, is all that survives of the gatehouse.
Former monastic buildings, now converted into two houses
These former monastic buildings have been converted into two houses. The cottages were given to us by the famous Ferguson's Gang.
Please note:
Bushmead Priory is a rare survival of the complete refectory of an Augustinian priory, with a fine timber roof and notable 14th century wall paintings.
There is a small permanent exhibition located on the first floor of the Priory, which details the history of the site.
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