On Tuesday, Year 1 had the wonderful opportunity to visit St James’s Catholic Church as part of our final Religious Education topic of the year, Dialogue and Encounter.
To begin this topic, the children have been learning about what it means to be a Christian and what it means to belong to a parish community. They discovered that Christians are followers of Jesus and that a parish is a community of people who come together to worship God and live out their faith.
As St James’s Catholic Church in Spanish Place is our local parish, we were delighted to be welcomed by Father Philip for a special tour of the church. During our visit, the children learned more about the role of a parish priest and the rich history of this beautiful place of worship.
Father Philip explained that, as our parish priest, his role is to share God’s love, celebrate Mass, and lead important sacraments such as Baptism, First Holy Communion, Confirmation, and Marriage. The children were fascinated to learn about the history of the parish, including its connection to the Spanish Embassy. In the past, the King and Queen of Spain would often visit the church, which was originally established to serve the Spanish community in London.
We also learned that St James is the patron saint of Spain, which is why the church is dedicated to him. Father Philip explained that the many shell symbols found throughout the church are linked to St James and his story.
During the tour, the children explored the church’s beautiful features, including its statues and stunning stained-glass windows, learning about their significance and meaning. It was a memorable and engaging experience that brought our RE learning to life.
A huge thank you to Father Philip for giving up his time to share his knowledge and enthusiasm with us. The children thoroughly enjoyed this very special visit and gained a deeper understanding of our parish community and its history.
