This page was initially created for members of Llandaff Diocesan Conference sharing how St Mary the Virgin (Church in Wales) Primary School and Church work together with a presentation given by Mrs Nicki Prichard (Headteacher) and Fr Dean Atkins (Priest) at this year’s Conference (September 2023)
‘Welcome’
Welcome! Yes, welcome indeed! It’s a word filled with warmth, and one that is so important to us that we love to share it in all the languages associated with our school community!
St Mary’s is a multicultural School where diversity and faith is important.
When we refer to the ‘St Mary’s Community’, we mean church, school, children, families and any one else in the wider community who identifies with the church or school in any way at all.
‘You’re Christian!’
Faith is a common currency, and we lose nothing of our Christian identity by valuing and respecting the faith of others.
Each week, we celebrate Mass at St Mary’s Church, whilst Muslim pupils are given their time together. We enrich one another within a Christian environment.
We love working together to create a safe, nurturing space for all, building friendships and creating a strong, cohesive community.
We try to find that ‘common ground’ which unites us – like that little boy who exclaimed “You’re Christian. I’m Muslim!” and then went on to say “Christians and Muslims love God!”
This “common ground” is precious but fragile too and so we tread carefully and with respect.
Sometimes, what some of our children find difficult to understand is not that people have different faiths but that some people have no faith.
It’s worth mentioning that no children or their families presently attend St Mary’s Church on a Sunday. In our context, this isn’t how we measure growth. Growth comes in so many other ways!
Our School
The flow between church and school is natural and regular. It’s supported by members of the congregation who serve as governors, alongside others from our community.
For us, it’s the friendships, the personal relationships and pastoral encounters which are important to us and produce most fruit.
But here are some quick fire figures about St Mary’s School that will help to give more insight into the St Mary’s Community.
Faithul Butetown
As a multi-cultural, multi-faith community, where diversity and identity is important, we have much to share with others.
One way in which we are trying to do this together is through our Faithful Butetown project for Schools.
This offers a resource for students to spend a day with us and to discover more about the faith, history, heritage and lives of Butetown. It’s a work in progress but you can find out more here. It helps us share what we often take for granted. To quote Jo Cox, “We have more in common than that which drives us apart.’
We are committed to countering false narratives, creating a strong community, and nurturing peace and compassion. School and church have an important role to play in this as we work together – and alongside others – in our community.
Community Organising
Church and School share many passions, and we work together with others across the Community to effect change. Each of us is a member and anchor organisation of Citizens Cymru in Butetown. We sit around the same table.
Through Community Organising, School and Church are part of the core team for Croeso Butetown. It’s a scheme to welcome, home, and support a refugee family for up to two years under the UK’s Community Sponsorship Scheme.
We are also members of the Core Team for the Youth Endowment Fund which was launched at St Mary’s School in July. It’s a significant project with investment over five years to help young people in Butetown and Grangetown to flourish and be safe, and to protect them from violence.
School of Sanctuary
In 2022, when the Churches Unlocked Festival coincided with Refugee Week we decided to combine both, and to work closely together.
It was a transformative time of ‘Sanctuary, Welcome and Diversity’. During the week, the school also celebrated its accreditation as a School of Sanctuary.
In 2023 we were determined to build on this, whilst also celebrating Windrush Day and the Great Get Together. Both church and school are part of the Cardiff’s More in Common Network. In January we had already partnered with the Day of the Soup for the Great Winter Get Together to bring a vibrant event to combat loneliness and break down barriers.
The high point of Refugee Week 2023 was the premiere of the video, A Sanctuary Alphabet which you can watch below. It was an amazing week with church and school working hand in hand.
In so many ways, we don’t do anything special. We build friendships, seek to strengthen our community, look for opportunities that are relevant to our context, discover shared interests, and just go for it!
Refugee Week 2023 highlights
A Sanctuary Alphabet
The film created by the pupils. The poem was written for Refugee Week 2022 and then made into a film for 2023
Find out more
We couldn’t possibly include everything in such a short presentation, so here are some other links and resources which you may find useful.
Our School Prayer
This is our school
Let peace dwell here.
Let the rooms be full of contentment.
Let love abide here:
Love of mankind,
love of God and love of life itself.
Let us remember that
as many hands make a house
so many hearts make a school. Amen.
Links
Butetown’s Colourful Journey
A video made just a few years ago by St Mary’s School celebrating our colourful journey and life together in Butetown
Resource Ideas
Church are a wonderful resource for schools, and can help support the curriculum and strengthen links: Here’s one example:
Walls and Windows: Check out our Schools Resource Pack with ideas for use across the curriculum.
There are are also a number of resource for schools in the Resources section of St Mary’s Church website.
Our Commitments to School: a little leaflet (pdf document) setting out our commitments as a Church to St Mary’s School
The Day of the Soup
The Day of the Soup: This was a joint project between school and church, and you can read more in this article on the Diocese of Llandaff website, or listen to Nicki, Sian and Fr Dean and children from St Mary’s Community in this short video below:
Refugee Week
Refugee Week worked for us. In your context, it could be something else that ignites a shared interest or passion.
Refugee Week 2023: Check out our programme of events from June 2023
Fly High: A reflection about Refugee Week 2023 from Fr Dean:
Windrush Day
A short video from “The Cardiffian” about children of St Mary’s celebrating Windrush Day which falls during Refugee Week, a collaboration between school and church.
We hope you enjoyed our presentation and some of the resources here. Please feel free to get in touch if you’d like to find out more, or would even like to pay a visit!
South Cardiff Ministry Area 