Last Friday I spent the day at Bernard Gilpin Primary School in Houghton-le-Spring – now part of Sunderland. Bernard Gilpin, known as the “Apostle of the North”, was a notably caring and hospitable rector of Houghton-le-Spring from 1557 to his death in 1583. He connected with everyone, rich and poor alike, attending generously to their needs.
The primary school that bears his name, though not a church school, walks in his footsteps. It serves a largely poor, working class estate, attending to the needs of its children and their parents with generosity and kindness.
I was there with my friend and colleague Jonathan, on one of our regular visits supporting their focus on well-being and mental health for everyone – staff and children. I spent the day doing Tai Chi with each class and their teacher, from Reception to Year 6. Adults and children together. Tai Chi is really a form of meditation. It involves body and mind in focused attention.
Back at St. George’s, on my way to choir practice for the Advent Carol Service, I looked at the Christmas trees. Close to the organ was one which drew attention to the support available in Stockport for supporting well-being and mental health. I picked up one of the leaflets. It suggested five ways to maintain well-being:connect with people, get active, learn something new, carry out acts of kindness, appreciate the moment.
In the vestry were thirty two people aged from 6 to 90, older helping younger and younger helping older. Soon they would be concentrating as they sang. There in the present moment. Like the staff and children at Bernard Gilpin, I think they were fulfilling those five aspects of good mental health and well-being – without consciously realising it.
Chris Dawson