CYO works with secondary schools across the Colchester area. Following a number of conversations with senior staff in four local secondary schools we recognised an opportunity to develop a prayer room or spiritual space for schools. The initial concept was formed in partnership with a local 24-7 Boiler Room Community and led to detailed planning by the CYO team.

Sanctum was originally devised as a cross between a prayer room and a personal journey that allowed students to re?ect on their lives in a spiritual way. It is designed principally to contribute to the OFSTED requirements for Spiritual Moral Social and Cultural development making it appropriate for schools that do not have an implicitly Christian ethos. The activities, since developed and expanded, have proved to be accessible to students with any level of faith, or none.  For some Sanctum is simply a good place to think about big issues, some report the beginning of a spiritual awakening, and for others it provides a rich environment for prayer in the heart of their school.

Sanctum launched in July 2008. During a week of break times and lunch times 100 young people visited, some several times, and to our knowledge none of them were Christians. Feedback was overwhelmingly positive. One boy, known to us and sometimes a bit ?difficult?, wrote in the visitor book: “This place is amazingly peaceful. I loved it. This was a place I could let out my true feelings.”

Up to July 2010 Sanctum has been run ten times in five Colchester secondary schools and also at the local Sixth Form College. Here Christians and non-Christians mixed comfortably as they engaged with the different activities. A Wiccan girl spent an hour with us and came back again to continue a conversation about God, and we were able to pray with a few others.
“I wouldn?t call myself religious and I still don?t believe there is a God, but I found this very thought provoking.” “Thank you for the experience and for praying for me. The ?exibility and kindness makes it what it is - extraordinary.”

Sanctum is still developing. We now have over 15 activities to draw on, and a week in school can include some RE lessons as well as being open at break and lunch times. One of the huge bene?ts of Sanctum has been the way it allows for the involvement of a number of volunteers from local churches.  Some are young twenties, one is a lady in her 70?s. All are known to us, have worked with us on other projects, are suitably checked and work to agreed policies.

We?ve found that Sanctum is creating a space where young people can explore a language for their spiritual experiences and, for some, begin to recognise the presence and activity of God in their lives.

Tim Abbott//Sanctum