AN innovative project will see a church and school work together to create a brand new worshipping community.

St Francis Church in Leigh Park will work with Park Community School to prompt students to consider issues of faith, building on the church’s existing work with primary schools.

A newly-employed pioneer youth worker will be based within the secondary school, and will offer regular worship activities. That could involve a weekly prayer space for Year 7s, dedicated drop-in times for reflection, support for collective worship, and a presence in the playground at break times.

Within five years, the idea is that there’ll be a worshipping community attracting 60 or so students aged 11 to 16. That could take place in school, at midweek sessions at the end of the school day. Parents could also be invited to explore questions of faith at separate sessions.

And this fledgling worshipping community could also help to revitalise the existing church community. They could be invited to St Francis for major festivals, form the basis of a church youth group for 16 to 20-year-olds, and link to existing church projects.

The project also aims to encourage a cohort of volunteer, lay leaders who can work in both the church and the school to inspire deeper discipleship.

The vicar, the Rev Jonathan Jeffery, said: “We already do a lot of work in primary schools, but we don’t always get a chance to build on those relationships once children reach secondary school. The best things that we do in Leigh Park tend to be in partnership with others, and it makes sense for the school and church to work together as we’re both heavily involved in the community.”

And the headteacher of Park Community School, Chris Anders, said: “It’s an exciting opportunity to work with the local church. Our vision aligns, as we’re both interested in these students having active roles in this community as they mature into adults.

“It will be good to have a worker embedded in the school and sharing in school life. There are so many opportunities they’ll have to have conversations and build relationships. I’d like to invite anyone who is interested in this role to visit before they apply and to see for themselves what we can offer.”

The impetus for the project came from the school, which identified a ‘youth worker-shaped hole’ in their provision, alongside its existing Foodbank, Pantry, uniform bank and family meals for students who receive free school meals.

The successful applicant for the role will be someone who can use skills developed in youth work, in chaplaincy, and in leading others into faith. The post will be funded for five years, after which it is hoped the project may be self-sustaining.

It is also hoped that the experience of this project can lead to other similar projects in housing estates, in secondary schools, and with churches from the Catholic tradition across our diocese.