The Lifepath of St Hild
Believe and Do
Disappointed children – when they found out they were not coming back for second day!
Thankful teachers – “This is one of the best school trips I have been on.”
“This has been the fourth year we have run Lifepath at Holy Trinity and we have been able to build on the experiences of previous years to deliver a really good experience for the children,” said Steph Sanderson, Children’s Worker at HT and one of the prime movers behind Lifepath.
“But it was not just HT. As in previous years we had tremendous support from team members from Heaton Baptist and MINE Youth, without whom we would not be able to put Lifepath on.
“As ever it has been hard, but very rewarding, work to see how the children arrive with a certain amount of trepidation and leave in high spirits, some disappointed they will not be back for a second day!”
And from a teacher at St Catherine’s:
“Thank you so much for today's lovely workshops; the kids really enjoyed it, and couldn't stop singing the songs when they got back!”
So what of Lifepath 2027?
“As in previous years, the team is going to have a bit of time off to get over everything that has gone into this year’s event before we start to even think of next year. But watch this space for Lifepath 2027!” said Steph
Just a couple of takeaways from the 2026 running of LIFEPATH at Holy Trinity Church Jesmond on 8th and 9th June. Now in its fourth year, Lifepath 26 continued its run of looking at Northern Saints, but this year – having looked at three male saints – Oswald, Aidan, Cuthbert – it was the turn of the girls! St Hild to be precise.
In all, around 160 Year 4 children from five local schools – Central Walker CE, Christchurch CE, St Catherine’s RC, St Lawrence’s RC, and St Teresa’s RC – came for a variety of activities, including ‘This is your Lifepath’ – written and directed by Rob Wallace – a modern drama based on an old TV show, looking at the life of Hild through the eyes of family and friends – craft and prayer workshops, and dramatised Bible story-telling. The days were topped and tailed with exuberant opening and closing worship.
Over the last four years, the lives of the Northern Saints have been selected because they feature in the RE curriculum of Year 4 children. Using the saints also gives Lifepath the opportunity to show how these giants of the faith shared their life and faith, and to talk about how God can be in everyone’s lives.
“We feel it is important for the children to learn, not just about the character we are featuring, but about what God can do in their lives. We hope that we got across that Hild was a wise, strong woman who lived her life loving and serving God. She was dynamic, energetic and an influential woman of her time. She was capable, and worked with others and helped them to find and use their own gifts.”
Feedback from teachers was also very encouraging. One from Christchurch said:
"Staff and children had a wonderful day. It was very well organised, planned and well communicated throughout the day and beforehand, which is especially helpful for classes with a high number of SEND children. Workshop leaders and group leaders were extremely friendly adaptable and inclusive. What a lovely surprise to have coffee and homemade cakes too! Thank you so much!"
