"We aim to make the Cathedral accessible to young people, both as a building and as a living community of faith"
Come aboard the Ship of the Fens on a voyage of discovery!
Ely Cathedral, a living place of worship, is a beautiful, historic building and a unique education resource.
Come Aboard!The Education Department is staffed by two part-time Education Officers who work as a team along with talented and committed volunteers, all of whom have a considerable experience of working with children.
We aim to be responsive to the needs of schools by offering activities and experiences that support the National Curriculum and RE but which cannot be duplicated in the classroom.
These pages outline some of the activities currently available for schools, but we are always happy to adapt and develop them to meet your pupils' particular needs.
Please contact us on +44 (0)1353 659668
fax +44 (0)1353 669162
e-mail
j.munt@cathedral.ely.anglican.org for full details of our activities and resources.
We look forward to welcoming you and your pupils to Ely Cathedral.
Jan Munt,
Monastic Day
An opportunity for the children to dress up and experience a day in the life of a monk.
Animal Safari
Children can have fun hunting for animals in the Cathedral and find out about a Christian place of worship at the same time. We also offer a KS3 trail looking at the Cathedral as a place of worship.
Pilgrimage Day
Pupils can share the experience of a medieval pilgrim and consider their own spiritual journey.
Victorian Day
These days give a unique taste of Victorian Ely: washday at Ely Museum, stained glass production at
the Stained Glass Museum and Victorian craftsmanship in the Cathedral.
Tour of West Tower/Octagon
An exciting oppurtunity for pupils from year 6 and above to enjoy unique views of the Cathedral and of Ely
and to wonder at medieval craftmanship.
Brass Rubbing
A very enjoyable practical activity to support work in art and design, and history. As we are the proud owners of some beautiful brasses these can be rubbed in the Centre (£1 each) as part of your school's visit to the Cathedral.
Additional Themes
Christian Place of Worship
Bible Window Stories
Multi-Sensory Tour
Easter Activites
Available for both schools and pre-schools.
Ely Cathedral Roadshow
If the school can’t get to the Cathedral... the Cathedral will come to the school!
This offers a half-day learning experience in your own school which gives a flavour of what a visit to the Cathedral would provide. It includes a guided tour of the Cathedral using a Powerpoint presentation and a carousel of activities which enable pupils to explore different aspects of the Cathedral’s life and history.
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The Cathedral Centre
The Cathedral Centre offers a comfortable place to eat packed lunches. It is equipped with classroom capable of seating up to 30 pupils which can also be used for workshops and other activities. The St. Etheldreda Room has a video and overhead projector and can accommodate larger school groups. There is also our own shop offering souvenirs, gifts and cards and selling our own educational resources. We will also make up Goody Bags for your pupils so you can avoid the hassle of lost money and queues for the shop!
What the Children Say
"Thank you for the monks day. We had soup which I liked, with bread. I liked dressing up".
"The organ sounded beautiful. I enjoyed every second of the morning".
"I loved climbing to the top of the Octagon. I felt like Alice in Wonderland going through all the doors".
"...it was quiet and I felt relaxed and thoughtful".
"I like the Cathedral because of the windows that tell stories".
What the Teachers Say
"We all had a fantastic day and I feel that the experience will provide an excellent stimulus for RE lessons during the rest of the half-term".
"All the teachers and helpers appreciated your planning and had a stress-free day".
"One of my aims was to give the children a glimpse of the beauty of the Christian tradition - they certainly had that yesterday".
"The guides were excellent and maintained the children's interest...".
"We do believe that the visit to the Cathedral sows a seed that may not be understood or appreciated by our pupils but which gives them an experience we could never hope to match in school".
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How Do I Book?
The quickets way is to download our booking form, print 2 copies, enter your details, keep a copy of the completed form for yourself, and send it well in advance of your visit to the address below, or
contact the Education Officer, Jan Munt on telephone +44 (0)1353 659668 where we can discuss possible dates for your visit and the activities and resources you would like for your group. We will need a name and address to send our Booking Form.
The Cathedral Education Officer,
The Cathedral Centre,
Palace Green,
Ely,
Cambs
CB7 4EW
Please book as far ahead as possible, especially if you have a particular date in mind. Sometimes there are other events or Services taking place which may restrict access to the Cathedral.
How Much Does it Cost?
A visit to the Cathedral costs £2.00 per child plus £1.00 extra for Brass Rubbings and re-enactment days. This includes the services of a guide if you so wish. Tours of the West Tower and Octagon are available for pupils in year 6 and above at £30 per group of 12. Our
Educational Resource Materials (which may be purchased in advance) are individually priced. Teachers and adult helpers are not charged. Please bring your payment with you on the day of your visit, when you know definite numbers or ask for our invoice to be sent after your visit. Please make cheques payable to 'Ely Cathedral'.
