In July, BeSpace piloted a transition pilgrimage around Wilford Village, Nottingham, the day after the Year 6 pupils had visited their secondary schools. The route started at school and ended at church, with guided reflections at key stopping points along the way, inviting them to think back with gratitude and look ahead with confidence. Opportunities for intentional noticing and stopping to experience stillness were also included, with many pupils citing the Stilling practice near the pond as their favourite part and describing how peaceful it felt to listen to the nature around them.
Question prompts gave direction to our conversations whilst walking between waypoints, with volunteers stating that being on the journey together broke down hierarchy and enabled more freedom and depth of discussion.
We had conversations about the strengths they were taking forward with them and how they might use these to help others, as well as discussing the strengths they noticed in each other, which led to some really lovely moments of encouragement between peers.
Pupils’ spiritual engagement with the practice of pilgrimage was evident through their genuine responses as we walked and talked, their use of the response activities at the gather point, and their feedback comments afterwards, which included describing the ‘rare peace’ that they had experienced, and feeling like ‘God was beside me’ whilst walking.
Several pupils also connected deeply with the walk through the churchyard, seeming to value the permission to reflect on their own experiences of loss and remembrance, or the broader concept of the path of life and their hopes for where it may lead.
The school was very positive about the experience, with feedback from senior leaders stating that it was perfectly timed and really valuable for the children, encouraging them to reflect and think deeply about what is meaningful to them, any worries they have, and what brings them joy. The headteacher also commented on how it complemented the pupils’ preparation for transition: the busy practicality of visiting their secondary schools, followed by the contemplative opportunity of pilgrimage to process their feelings about moving on from an emotional and spiritual perspective.
Church volunteers were central to making the day happen and facilitating pupils’ engagement. Existing church-school links were strengthened by pupils feeling a sense of welcome and belonging in the relaxed setting of the church grounds where we gathered for lunch and collective worship; some pupils even attended the church youth group that evening, having made connections with the team during the day.
It was also a blessing to have with us the chaplain from the local secondary school which the majority of pupils will be attending, building familiarity and consistency and hopefully paving the way for further engagement in spiritual practices as they move into their secondary years. She said “Having this pilgrimage at this point in time really allows them to have a development of their own spirituality and what it means to them, and maybe reflect on things and big questions that they wouldn’t have before”.
It was a real joy to lead this transition pilgrimage and see the value it brought to pupils. We look forward to seeing it used again with the next cohort of Year 6 pupils in Wilford, as well as equipping many other churches to plan and develop their own local pilgrimages, for school children to experience and benefit from this ancient but ever-relevant practice.
