Good News Spotlight: Over 100 students attend optional worship service at Queen Elizabeth Academy

Last month, as part of the Flourish pilot, Queen Elizabeth Academy hosted its first major Flourish event, an Opt-in Worship service. Held during the school day, it was a joyful afternoon as 150 students chose to come and find out more about what was happening and join in with an amazing worship service.

Flourish is a national initiative aiming to launch 40 new worshipping communities in schools and colleges, in partnership with local churches, to help nurture a younger and more diverse church.

Hannah, the Diocesan Flourish Church in Schools Pioneer, shared:

“It has been wonderful to collaborate with the QEA chaplain and St John’s Church, Mansfield, to see their dream of an optional worship service come to life in school. The worship was high-energy, infectious, and joyful. Students were clapping and jumping along!”

The service was led by Danni, the school chaplain, and featured an amazing performance from the talented QEA student worship band. Revd Chris Lee, Vicar at St John’s Mansfield, spoke on the meaning of worship, and students themselves led the prayers.

We are thankful for how God is moving in our schools and excited to see what He will do through Opt-in Worship at QEA next year and across schools throughout our diocese.

Good News Spotlight is a regular feature in our diocesan communications that highlights and celebrates God’s work in parishes across the diocese. If your church has a good news story to share, we’d love to hear from you. Please get in touch with us here.