Insights from the prayer board within a Christian Ethos school: A qualitative perspective  

This study emerges from the qualitative strand of the Ten Leading Christian Ethos Schools project at Canterbury Christ Church University and the University of Warwick. Following the identification of the school prayer board and intercessory prayers within school Eucharists as offering a significant contribution to the Christian ethos of one of the schools, this study set out to offer a critical evaluation of these prayers composed by students. Taking a sample of almost 300 prayers, the study employs an established analytic framework for the analysis and classification of intercessory prayer (distinguishing between prayer intention, prayer reference, and prayer objective) that has been employed previously by ap Siôn in a series of studies concerning prayers posted in churches, in cathedrals, in hospitals, and online. The findings draw attention to the distinctive profile of the prayers offered within the particular school in terms of the issues for which prayers are offered, and the religious language and themes that shape these prayers. Suggestions are made regarding how these themes and linguistic forms may be shaping the spiritual and religious lives of the students. On the basis of these analyses suggestions are offered for the development of the ministry of intercessory prayer within Christian ethos schools and for further research within other Christian ethos schools.