IT was a service of prayer that had been designed by women from the South Pacific – so the children decided to wear floral headdresses.

These pupils from Bembridge CofE Primary School helped to lead singing and prayers during the World Day of Prayer service at Holy Trinity Church, Bembridge. It’s part of their the school’s involvement with Flourish, the national initiative linking schools and churches.

These 12 children, two from each year group, made their flowers out of tissue paper in school at a half-term workshop where their families joined in.

Headteacher Lizzie Chambers and Flourish worker Heather Gray-Newton prepared them in the hall with a South Pacific-style dance before they handed out hand-made flowers to other worshippers to use as button-holes.

The service, designed by women from the Cook Islands, was part of World Day of Prayer, the global ecumenical movement that has happened each year since 1927. Women from a different country prepare an order of service each year.

For this service, the pupils sang verses from a song written by the women of the Cook Islands, called ‘Wonderfully Made’ interspersed with stories from that part of the world and Bible readings. And nine-year-old Alicia Robson helped to lead the prayers. The service also included a decorated canoe loaned from Brading Haven Yacht Club.