Browse Sections

• Education
• Special reports

Archbishop pops in

24/11/2006

PUPILS in Beswick welcomed a very special guest when the Archbishop of Canterbury dropped in on their assembly and lessons.

Dr Rowan Williams was at School of The Resurrection on Pilgrim Drive last Thursday and students impressed him with their skills in Welsh, learned specially for the occasion.

It was a much anticipated visit and head teacher Maureen Hogarth said the school was buzzing with excitement as they prepared for their distinguished guest.

She said: "It went absolutely brilliantly. He sat back and enjoyed himself from the moment he stepped in to the moment he left.

"He visited every class and each one did a different presentation for him, with some singing, some performing a little drama and others reading poetry or doing a rap."

Pupils also had the opportunity to put their questions to Dr Williams, with younger children asking 'how heavy is your cross?' and 'do you like wearing your uniform?'. Older children wanted to know what it was like being Archbishop and whether he met with the Queen.

Miss Hogarth added: "We know what a packed schedule he has so we wanted him to enjoy it. He said he got a very warm feeling about the school and east Manchester and we were delighted to make him welcome. He was very gracious in his comments about the school and about the day."

To mark the visit a memorial was engraved with the words 'This stone was blessed in honour of Christ in resurrection by Dr Rowan Williams, Archbishop of Canterbury, 16 November 2006'.

Pupils presented him with a Manchester City hat and scarf and a pot engraved with a 'Beswick eagle' produced at the Beswick Pottery in Staffordshire.