"We aim to make the Cathedral accessible to young people, both as a building and as a living community of faith"
Ely Cathedral, a living place of worship, is a beautiful, historic building and a unique education resource.
The Education Department is staffed by a full-time Education Officer and a team of 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 me on telephone +44 (0)1353 659668, or e-mail
cathedral.education@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,
Useful Downloads
Bible Windows
A booklet containing the Bible stories which appear in the stained glass windows of the Cathedral. The stories may be read to
children at each window.
The Stonemason's Workshop
A practical science activity exploring the properties of the stone used in the building of the Cathedral, the effects of
weathering and medieval building methods. (Maximum group size - 18 children)
Tessellations
A photocopiable activity sheet exploring the fascinating shapes and patterns of the Victorian floor tiles in the Cathedral.
Animal Safari
This encourages the children to explore the Cathedral by searching through the building for animals in the carvings,
stained glass windows and decorations.
Bible Detective
A challenging activity for upper KS2 pupils which assumes knowledge of stories from the Bible. Children are given a
plan of the Cathedral and use the clues given to to find the stories in the carvings, stained glass etc. Teachers' Notes
give references and sources for all the stories in the worksheet.
Exploring a Christian Place Of Worship
A comprehensive set of activity sheets using the Cathedral as a resource for R.E. Notes for teachers are included in the pack.
'Voyage Of Discovery' In Ely Cathedral - The Ship of the Fens
An excellent introduction to the life of the Cathedral. This childrens video gives a 'behind the scenes' look at the history of
the Cathedral, the people who work there and its daily life. Especially suitable for Primary School Children.
Top
Material Packs
The following resources take the form of "packs" of materials (worksheets, fact sheets, teachers guides etc.) with plenty of
resources for preparatory and follow-up work. All the resources have been prepared with both the National Curriculum History
Syllabus and the Cambridge Religious Education Syllabus in mind and though designed primarily for Key Stage 3 pupils give useful
background for primary school teachers.
General Pack
Contains general information about the history of the Cathedral and its monastic foundations, materials on original sources,
worksheets exploring the architecture of the Cathedral, notes for teachers and suggested activities.
Pilgrimage Pack
The Cathedral has been a focus for pilgrims from medieval times. This pack includes materials that look at both the historical
and religious aspects of pilgrimage. We also offer a Pilgrimage Day when pupils can share the experience of a medieval pilgrim
and consider their own spiritual journey. (£3 per pupil)
Medieval Pack
Ely Cathedral is surrounded by the largest collection of medieval domestic architecture in England. This pack explores life in
Ely's medieval monastery, the Benedictine way of life, and the medieval City, with creative ideas for the classroom and first
hand evidence from medieval documents. We also offer a Monastic Day when pupils can live a day in the life of a medieval
monk at Ely. (£3 Per Pupil)
Cromwell To Cromwell
A pack to support KS3 work on Britain 1500-1750, and named after Thomas Cromwell and Oliver Cromwell, both of whom had a
significant influence upon the life of Ely and its Cathedral.
Cathedral Roadshow
If the school can't get to the Cathedral.....the Cathedral will come to the school!
This is 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 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.
Brass Rubbing Centre
We are now the proud owners of some beautiful brasses and these can be rubbed in the Centre for just £1 each, as part of your
school's visit to the Cathedral
