CAPTION: Bishop Jackie visited St Martin's School, Cranbrook, to help plant a cherrycot tree.
Bishop Jackie Opens New Primary School Garden in an Exmouth Churchyard
The Acting Bishop of Exeter, the Rt. Rev’d Jackie Searle, has been visiting primary schools across Devon this past week. One of her visits was to the Beacon Church of England Primary School, Exmouth, for the launch of their new school garden.
The school itself is fully concreted and has no green space for the pupils.
Over the past 18 months, Holy Trinity Church in Exmouth has been working with the school, the Diocesan Advisory Committee for the Care of Churches (DAC) and local agencies to create a school garden in the churchyard for the children to enjoy.
The garden has been a work in progress for two years.
The garden will have a shrub hedge and a small gate, allowing the children in and out.
It is called ‘God’s Little Acre’, and is a space for children to plant seeds and watch them grow.
It is hoped that the children can experience and appreciate God in creation through the new outdoor space.
Rev’d Steve Jones, who is Team Rector for the Mission Community of Littleham, Exmouth and Lympstone, said, “It is run by children, for children.”
The garden was declared open on Monday 11 March, in a service led by the Acting Bishop of Exeter, the Rt. Rev’d Jackie Searle.
All 174 children from the Beacon Church of England School were in attendance for this special occasion. During the opening, the pupils sang songs, and shared prayers.
Two pupils read a Bible passage, taken from Genesis 1:9-12, which reads:
‘And God said, “Let the water under the sky be gathered to one place, and let dry ground appear.” And it was so. God called the dry ground “land,” and the gathered waters he called “seas.” And God saw that it was good. Then God said, “Let the land produce vegetation: seed-bearing plants and trees on the land that bear fruit with seed in it, according to their various kinds.” And it was so. The land produced vegetation: plants bearing seed according to their kinds and trees bearing fruit with seed in it according to their kinds. And God saw that it was good.’
In a powerful moment, Bishop Jackie led a sung procession with a cross to the school’s new garden at Holy Trinity Church, Exmouth, with pupils and school staff following behind her.
To celebrate it’s opening, Bishop Jackie cut a red ribbon. She also prayed a blessing over the new garden, along with the children, their parents and the school staff.
Each of the children were given a packet of wildflowers, which they could take and plant in the new garden, and watch bloom over time.
Sarah Charker, who is the Diocesan Creation Care Engagement Officer, said, “What a wonderful opportunity to be at Holy Trinity, Exmouth for the opening of ‘God’s Little Acre Garden’ by Bishop Jackie. Holy Trinity have gifted a patch of land to the Beacon School to encourage the children to be more connected to nature.
“This space will be such a blessing to the school, giving the children space to get hands on with nature and to grow flowers and food. This will make a real different to a school that currently has no space for a garden.
“We have several churches in the Diocese of Exeter who have joined with schools to create community spaces such as gardens and orchards and we would love to see an increase in these partnerships. If you have plans for a similar project in your community we would love to hear about it!”
Planting a sign of life, fruitfulness and blessing
On Wednesday 6 March, Bishop Jackie joined students and staff at St Martin’s Church of England Primary School, Cranbrook, in planting a tree.
Together they planted a Cherrycot tree, which was planted as a sign of life, fruitfulness and blessing.
Cranbrook Church hold their church service in the primary school each week.
Rev’d Jon Holder, who is the Vicar of Cranbrook Church, was there to join in with the tree planting.
Visting Littleham Church of England Primary School
Bishop Jackie enjoyed her visit to Littleham Church of England School, and enjoyed the pupil’s interesting questions!
Bishop Jackie also recently visited Littleham Church of England Primary School.
There she led an assembly, and the children had the opportunity to ask some questions. Rev’d Steve Jones said the children asked some very interesting questions, including ‘how do you worship?’ and ‘what is a bishop?’
Pupils from the school council also had an opportunity of sharing the school’s vision and values.
Bishop Jackie was also shown around the school’s new library by some of the pupils.
Littleham Parish Church has given the schools new library some new reads for the pupils.
On her visit she was joined by Rev’d Steve Jones and Team Vicar Rev’d Benedict Cambridge, from the Mission Community of Littleham, Exmouth and Lympstone.
