Henry! Do we have a stepladder?
Clockwise left to right; reflection for volunteers before the day starts; children ahoy! the flags start to wave; reflection and prayers for volunteers as the day ends; the Quiet Space gazebo is folded for the last time this year.
The final day! Except, for the children (and some of the volunteers), it was their first. So volunteer enthusiasm levels remained high.
Around 140 children with their Pilgrim Guides and teaching staff poured into the building to the upbeat Lifepath music, through the iridescent flags. The dance moves were demonstrated, the Mexican wave perfected, the songs sung with gusto and the history of the Priory, a living church for 939 years, shared.
Today a new activity ‘Mediaeval Codebreaking’ showed the children that they already knew quite a few Latin words. Latin bingo was hotly contested and the marvel that Felix catfood (other brands are available) translates as ‘happy’ was revealed. By the end of each session each child, and quite a few teachers and a visiting vicar too, sported the sticker ‘I cracked the code’. In Latin, of course.
The Lifepath Thespians added a new level of improvisation during Rod’s retelling of the story of Zaccheus. Dylan had crafted a miniature stepladder in place of a full size version, and when the tree was requested, ‘Henry’ (aka David, LLM) delivered a real oak seedling from the Prop Shop. And as for the newspaper tree? It suffered tree malfunction, breaking in two. The final score Tree 3: Mr Pop 2.
However, the message of God’s forgiveness for our sins through Jesus, rang out loud and clear. This was Rod, the vicar’s, final Lifepath, a moment that was marked by the personal delivery of five custard pies (facially) from his troupe of players to the delight of all…
As volunteers sat eating their lunch to the distant chatter of children on the glebe and the mild confusion of visitors to the Lifepath-ed Priory, there was a certain wistfulness mixed with the joy. How could the week have flown by so quickly?
’What a beautiful new floor’ said a teacher, as the children left through a veil of bubbles. ‘No more splinters!’ So a huge thank you to all who supported the Nave Floor Appeal. You, too, have supported the phenomenon that is ‘Lifepath’.
In under an hour everything was tidied up and packed away. Dylan and his volunteers were shifting chairs ready for tomorrow’s ‘Come and Sing Haydn’s ‘Creation’’. Seldom a quiet day in this living church.
And Lifepath 2025? Yes, it’ll be running next June. 23rd-27th. Mark your diaries now!
