Visit with your School

 
 

We are a welcoming space and a place of learning for students of all ages. Whether you are looking to explore our musical programmes, learn more about our rich history, or to find a suitable space for your school event we are sure you will be able to find the perfect visit for your group.

Music Education and Singing

We believe in the power of music to improve lives and we are committed to promoting music and making it accessible to as many as possible. Music education is a key part of being The National Musicians’ Church and our Director of Music can help lead and enable the development of a range of music programmes and inclusive music activities for target audiences, including local schools and SEND young people.


Examples of our work with schools and colleges include:

  • Music and history workshops for Primary schools

  • Choral workshops with Secondary school music pupils

  • Conducting workshops with Conservatoire students

If you would like to know how we can work with your school, please contact us at office@hsl.church.

Heritage, Military and History Workshops

We are a Grade I listed church situated on the corner of Holborn Viaduct and Snow Hill within the City of London’s cultural district. Essentially a medieval church, rebuilt by the office of Sir Christopher Wren following the Great Fire of 1666, with further 19th Century modifications, we have been a centre for worship since 1137. Today it plays a special role as the National Musicians’ Church and as the home to the Royal Fusiliers Chapel. It also home to the "Bells of Old Bailey”, as featured in the nursery rhyme, Oranges and Lemons; and we are proud to be the resting place of Sir Henry Wood (1869-1944), founder of the Proms. Other notable associations, include, the great Bible-translator, preacher, martyr and former vicar, John Rogers (1500-1555); and Captain John Smith (1580-1521), explorer and adventurer, and one of the English founders of Jamestown, Virginia.

Two recent school workshops:

  • Art & History: The co-designed visit to Holy Sepulchre provided an opportunity for students to develop their skills as art historians, learning how artists use symbols, imagery and visual storytelling to communicate ideas. It also gave students the chance to express their own values and aspirations through creative design. After learning some key principles of art history, students became detectives, using magnifying glasses to closely examine two paintings by Raphael: The Marriage of the Virgin and Madonna della Seggiola.  Students then applied these same skills to the church's beautiful stained-glass windows, exploring how colour, imagery and symbolism can be used to tell stories and express beliefs.

  • Military history and digital story telling: The co-designed visit to Holy Sepulchre, in collaboration with Legasee (the military veterans charity dedicated to preserving the stories of British military veterans), the students planned and prepared thoughtful questions for the veteran, carried out filmed interviews using accessible equipment, worked collaboratively to shape the narrative and created and preserve a meaningful digital archive.

If you would like to organise a visit with your students to learn more about our rich and varied history, please contact us at office@hsl.church

Unique Range of Art, Music, Heritage, Green and Creative Group Activities

We also have a range of specially developed school group activities offering a range of experiences, aligned to both educational outcomes (eg History, Music, Heritage, Creative development etc), creative health and wellbeing, skills development, City immersion, communication skills, confidence, and more. These include:

1.Musicali-Tea: Tea, Tales & Tunes: Combining an agreed level of live music, heritage storytelling and refreshments. Strengthens confidence, memory, friendships and emotional wellbeing. Specific music and story telling partners can be arranged.

2.Communi-Tea: Sing-a-ling, skills, socialise & Sharing: Combining crafts, conversation, co‑created activities, gentle music and refreshments. Creative skill development, builds trust, and friendships. Specific creative skills partners can be arranged.

3.Humani-Tea: Honouring heroes, past & present: Celebrating “heroes” people, many of who from our own history from 1137 or of the City itself, from past or present. In addition, with one of our educational partners, we can offer the exploration of local heroes eg carers, veterans, neighbours etc and a session that teaches oral‑history interviewing, digital storytelling and character education. Encourages empathy, respect and civic pride. Specific theatrical partners can be arranged to enhance experience through “interviewing” of historical figures.

4.Militari-Tea: Sustenance, songs & service stories: Focusing on military heritage and veterans’ experiences, supported by music, refreshments and learning. Promotes wellbeing, remembrance, resilience and mutual understanding. Potential for veterans or theatrical partners can be arranged to enhance experience through “interviewing” of individuals with lived experiences.

5.Creativi-Tea: Walks, wonders, parks & places; A range of Wellbeing journeys from the church, supported by history, heritage, reflection, creativity and refreshments, which includes sensory/experiential in‑church alternatives for those unable to walk fot whatever reasno, ensuring full accessibility. These journeys offer a range of educational opportunities as well as moments of reflection during the journeys.

Events

We have hosted several events for schools and places of education. Our flexible space makes the perfect setting for a whole range of events. As well as concerts with visiting groups from colleges in the United States and Australia, and some organised by a local borough council, Performances with the London Youth Choir, and a thanksgiving service for a school which included a full student orchestra, a 100 strong student choir, culminating in a marching band along Holborn Viaduct and onto The Guildhall, we have also hosted a week long ‘live stone carving’ event in collaboration with the Building Crafts College, City and Guilds London Art School, The Worshipful Company of Masons and The Master Carvers’ Association, a workshop to construct a replica of St Paul’s Cathedral Dome with the Wren300 team, AND two performances of ‘Fire! The Great Fire of London’ in collaboration with The Classical Roadshow team where we welcomed over 600 students in one day!

If you would like to speak to one of our team about hosting an event here, please contact us at office@hsl.church.