Bishop Rhiannon has visited three schools across Bournemouth to help them celebrate Epiphany. Special acts of collective worship were held involving all ages across the school family.
Each child was given a paper crown to help them think about the journey of the wise men who followed the star to the stable where Jesus was born.
Epiphany is celebrated on 6th January and the day after 12th night. Bishop Rhiannon’s Epiphany tour started with a visit to St James Primary Academy.
She said, “We have been singing and praying and asking questions of each other and it’s just been a delight. The children already know so much. They know the Epiphany story. They know songs related to it and they’ve thought about it. Many of the schools had already got chalking around lots of doors so that was exciting too.”
Bishop Rhiannon, with the help of diocese Deputy Director of Education Rob Sanders, led the school with the traditional ‘chalkings’ and learning about the story around the markings. The numbers refer to the calendar year, the crosses to Christ and the letters C, M, and B stand for the traditional names of the Magi, Caspar, Melchior and Balthazar, or alternatively for the Latin blessing Christus mansionem benedicat (‘May Christ bless this house’). Pupils were given a piece of chalk in case they wanted to do something similar at home.
St James Headteacher, Alastair Brown, said, “It’s not every day you get a bishop coming to your school, but to look out and see all the children wearing their crowns on their heads, 407 crowns, it was just lovely. The children love awe and wonder, that’s what engages them, but I thought that it was lovely this morning. This was their first day back at school for 2026, and a perfect way to set the term and the year off. It wasn’t all noise and excitement. There was a time for reflection and quiet, and I think Bishop Rhiannon brought that beautifully to St James today.”
The second visit was to St Katharine’s School in Southbourne. She was treated to a light performance by pupils telling the Christmas story. The pupils spent the day thinking about epiphany and the wise men’s journey, what had kept them going through difficult times and how they can stay strong when life gets tough.
10-year-old pupil Isabella said, “I think today is important because it’s remembering the three wise men and Jesus being born and being given the three gifts. So, this morning we’ve been chalking the doors, and we’ve had a worship and it’s a really special time.”
10-year-old Thomas added, “It’s important because the three kings who were really successful and important came to see Jesus because he’s our saviour and King. It was important enough for them to follow a star in complete faith. When we were talking about it in our class, I found out lots I didn’t know before.”
And 10-year-old Grace agreed, “I think we need to remember that the wise men went on a long journey to see Jesus and then when they finally saw him, it was seeing the Saviour that would save them all.”
Bishop Rhiannon’s final visit was to Epiphany School. Pupils shared their knowledge of Epiphany and five pupils led prayers, asking for God’s blessings on those they love, for world leaders and those who make long journeys, and for God to be their daily star, leading them along the right paths.
Headteacher of Epiphany School, Vanessa Webster, said, “We are the Epiphany School and today is to honour and celebrate our namesake. It’s really special to have Bishop Rhiannon join us and be part of the celebration and for the children to interact and to share what’s special about our festival. Bishop Rhiannon did that so beautifully and it was just a joyful moment. I think the children really embraced today. They enjoyed sharing their knowledge of epiphany, but they also enjoyed learning, and being led by someone with a passion.”
At each school Bishop Rihannon spoke about some of the different ways in which Epiphany is celebrated across the world including the Twelfth Night feast, hanging up a star, chalking the door, kings parades and processions and the King Cake or Galette des Rois where anyone who finds a small crown buried in the cake is made king for the day. In a show of hands, the pupils voted this tradition as their favourite! She also prayed a blessing on each of the three schools.
Bishop Rhiannon concluded, “One of the moments that we introduced in each service was about helping people to pray that God would appear to them today because Epiphany means appearance. So, every child today, and we’ve seen almost a thousand, has been given the opportunity to invite Jesus to come and appear to them and that’s my hope, for myself and for others, that Jesus would appear to each of us today on Epiphany.”
