John Writes
What a busy year we have had so far – 27 schools, 4700 children to meet in places as far flung as Moira, Hinckley and Newton Burgoland – not to mention Leicester City itself!
Meeting Head Teachers and staff is always good too. We chat about life in school and it’s great to find out what’s happening and that we are welcomed and enjoyed by staff as well as children! And also to be a listening ear if needed!
The familiar question of ‘Who’s in the suitcase today then?’ echoes around each school hall at some time during every term and often it’s from a staff member and not a child!
I was reflecting recently on the fact that it is FIFTEEN years since I first picked up Mr Scrappy and ventured into a school and we are still as welcome as ever – well, Mr Scrappy is anyway!
God certainly has kept open the doors and, indeed, strengthened the friendship and trust of our working relationship in each school community. It is a privilege to serve the schools in each assembly, lesson or visit to look around the Martyrs.
I am so thankful for the help, prayer and financial support of everyone who has a heart to see this ministry grow even further and who knows what plans God has for us next...

SCHOOLS

Over the course of a year, we welcome around 12 different school groups to visit the Church of the Martyrs in Leicester
John enjoys telling groups about the history of the church and about what the Martyrs get up to and not just on Sundays! Also about what Christian church worship in an Anglican setting is like.
The children usually have lots of questions and want to know what everything is and why certain things are done.
Every group asks about the wooden roof and why it’s like a boat! Also why we have a brass bird and who are the people in the stained glass windows?! They really enjoy standing in the pulpit and looking around the building and hearing about the way in which the church has served its community for 119 years – although John hasn’t been there for quite that long!
We are always happy to hear from any schools about coming to have a look around – please contact John to chat about bringing a party to see us!

Caldecote Primary School children visited in 2008 and here are some pictures of them during their visit

Here's where we visit

• Caldecote Primary
• Dovebank Primary
• Dovelands Primary
• Folville Junior
• Harby CE Primary
• Hose CE Primary
• Hugglescote Primary
• Ibstock Junior
• Imperial Avenue Nursery
• Inglehurst Infants
• Inglehurst Junior
• King Richard III Infants
• Kirby Muxloe Primary
• Long Clawson CE Primary
• Moira Infants
• Newton Burgoland Primary
• Parks Primary
• Pastures Primary
• Rowlatts Hill Primary
• Samworth Academy
• Scraptoft Valley Primary
• Shaftesbury Primary
• Stathern Primary
• St Mary’s CE Primary
• Swannington CE Primary
• Westfield Infants
• Westfield Juniors
• Woodstone Primary