PRIMARY school children made good use of their new spiritual garden – with a prayer for the Bishop of Durham who missed the official opening through sickness.
Long-time chairman of the Parents, Teachers and Families Association Sue Calvert performed the official honours at St John’s C of E Academy, Darlington.
She was helped to cut the ribbon of the brand new prayer garden by head boy Elliot Nimmo and head girl Caitlin Hazlewood, both 10.
Head teacher Christine Large welcomed guests to a special opening ceremony after weeks of work to convert an old jungle courtyard into a beautiful prayer garden, complete with seats, memory tree and water feature.
“The pupils thought of the idea and the school council developed it with the help of Middlesbrough architects Harkin Associates,” she said. “Sadly the Bishop is poorly and can’t make it today but he is in our thoughts and prayers.”
The school council told fellow pupils and guests, including contractors Carter Building and Construction, of Sunderland, how the garden took shape.
The audience also heard how the PTFA had raised £8,000 towards the cost of the project and the local branch of Nisa had donated another £1,000.
A large cross had been donated by Sunnyside Primary School, Middlesbrough, which had been shot-blasted and painted to take pride of place in one corner.
The garden club planted it and the school council invited guests and planned the opening event, including a prayer balloon launch.
Vicar of St John’s and St Columba Rev Sheilagh Williamson said: “We have prayers to God on the balloons, prayers on the bunting and we have planted seeds to make the garden look nice and to remind us to plant seeds of love in our lives.”
