Children from schools across Jarrow came together to celebrate the one-year anniversary of the ‘Way of Learning’, one of the Northern Saints Trails.
The Right Reverend Paul Butler, Bishop of Durham started the event by leading an assembly at Jarrow Cross CE Primary, discussing the importance of pilgrimage and informing students that “Jesus is always with us, wherever we go”.
Bishop Paul then greeted 100 students from six schools - Jarrow Secondary School, Jarrow Cross CE Primary, Valley View Primary, Hedworthfield Primary, St Joseph’s RC Primary and Dunn Street Primary - at St Paul’s Church in Jarrow
The pupils took part in an ‘All Age Service’, featuring interactive prayer stations that explored the world, the community, family and school within pilgrimage.
Revd Lesley Jones, Rector of Jarrow and Simonside, said: “The children really enjoyed being able to mingle with others from different schools!
“The children were so engaged. It was a fabulous morning with a great atmosphere”
Creative tasks included sticking post-it notes on globes, attaching felt leaves to a prayer tree and creating a path of paper footprints from the entrance of the chancel to the high altar.
The Northern Saints Trails project has seen six long distance walks developed in the North East, to promote the role that the area had in the spread of Christianity.
The Way of Learning – a pilgrimage between Jarrow and Durham – equates to around 38 miles, or 61 kilometres.