Ripon Cathedral
Ripon Cathedral
Ripon Cathedral is a beautiful, ancient church with a history reaching back to the 7th Century. It is a mother church for the Diocese of West Yorkshire and the Dales and home for the cathedra (throne) of the Bishop of Leeds. The Cathedral is an active, living Church with a community of Christians who seek to make worship a priority for life and to reach out in service to the wider community. We enjoy welcoming both pilgrims and tourists, hoping that they will capture a glimpse of God’s love for them through the witness of this remarkable building and its people. We look forward to welcoming you.
School Visits
In partnership with the Diocesan Board of Education, Ripon Cathedral offers a range of learning experiences for all schools. We offer a stimulating environment in which pupils can develop their learning across a range of curriculum subjects. Learning about and from religion – which is part of the religious education curriculum – can only be enhanced by the opportunity to gain direct first-hand experience of a Christian place of worship.
The rich resources of the Cathedral can also inspire learning in history, art, music, science, numeracy and literacy, whilst at the same time promoting significant opportunities to promote pupils’ spiritual development.
Above all, the Cathedral is a place where pupils can take time to be still, think, and reflect. We encourage all the school groups who visit us to allow time for quiet reflection, this will often be in the Crypt – a place of prayer for over 1,300 years. If requested we are also able to offer Collective Worship as part of your visit.
Workshops
Our range of workshops cover curriculum topics including RE and various other subjects. Most can be adapted for all Key Stages from EYFS to KS4 and to any group size. You can choose just one workshop, or group together several to make a full day’s visit. We have space in our Education Centre at Thorpe Prebend House for the children to eat packed lunches, participate in plenary sessions using our classroom facilities and explore the Heritage Interpretation Centre based there. Your group will be welcomed by members of the Cathedral Education Team who are able to lead Religious Education workshops and support the children’s learning during other sessions.
In addition to the RE workshops, we are happy to work with you and your staff to design further workshops on any relevant topic. We have already done this for schools exploring the Cathedral as a significant building in Ripon; for young archaeologists studying rituals around death and dying and for KS2 children who visited the bell tower and learnt about church bells.
Our regular collaboration with Artists and Exhibitors further enhances what we can offer to children and schools. Major art shows in the Cathedral often include children’s trails and/or competitions. Several artists also offer tailored workshops for schools.
Hosting your Event
In addition to being an excellent destination for School Visits, the cathedral is a brilliant place for your own school or cluster events. We can seat up to 330 people with a good view in the main body of the Cathedral and plenty of space for performers, musicians etc. There is space for more chairs that can be put in the side aisles but those seats have a restricted view. Please contact us to discuss your requirements.