054 - Chapter 54

(Illustrations: Deckham and Lally our puppets, and Godly play materials)

2003 was also the year I discovered a brilliant resource. It was a ‘Godly Play’ workshop run by Judith Sadler, at the Church of the Holy Spirit, Denton, in Newcastle. The idea was first developed by Jerome Berryman in the USA, and it really took off in this country. It was a way of telling Bible stories using plain wooden figures and coloured felts, influenced using the Montessori approach to education: i.e. learning through play.

Thinking back to the stories I used to make up at my nana’s house as a child, with plastic Robin Hood figures, I could see the value of such teaching immediately. All children respond to what is visual, we see that more and more today on Tik Tok and other social media programmes, which have the power to draw children in with their quick-fire images and posts. Wordy books with few illustrations switch some children off, and similarly church services with endless talking can have the same effect. 

By using small wooden figures alongside storytelling, the aim of Godly Play was to lead children into moments of thoughtful reflection.

Judith took as her example that day, the story of Zacchaeus, in Luke chapter 19; with set questions such as :-

“I wonder why Zacchaeus couldn’t get near to Jesus?

I wonder how he felt when Jesus called him by name and invited himself to tea?

I wonder what it was Jesus said to him, that gave him such a change of heart?

Such questions as these had been designed so that children might make a response in the stillness that followed each question. It seemed an ideal project for children who weren’t at all familiar with Bible stories; and ideal for childrens' workshops or schools.

As Church of the Good Shepherd was a Local Ecumenical Project, I teamed up with Deacon Denise Creed, a Methodist, who was also familiar with Godly Play, and we decided to try to get a project like this going. Our plan was approved by the ECC, (the governing body of the church.)

Denise looked into expenses and we began raising money. I found a carpenter, who had a Sunday craft stall on Jesmond Dene Bridge, in Newcastle, and he began making figures for us at a special rate. We purchased other materials and bought felt, props and special cupboards; and then advertised the project as an after-school club. And so our Godly Play experience was launched, and it proved to be very successful.

Denise and I both already owned superb puppets, Lally and Deckham, and she wrote special scripts for them. We opened each session with a theme that would appeal to the children; our puppets even ‘spoke and acted’ like children, and Godly Play followed on.

My most memorable moment out of all those sessions was when one child with learning difficulties joined us. With his ADHD, and other complex needs, he simply couldn’t sit still, and he distracted the others at first. He didn’t want to sit with the other children and he took to hiding under a table at the far side of the hall. But he must have been taking in by what was being said, because the following week he drew closer in order to hear what was going on, but sat some way away from us again. The next session he came further forward, and by the fourth week, he had joined our circle of listeners and was paying attention!

It was wonderful to see. He was exactly like Zacchaeus, looking on from a distance!

Even parents were learning from these stories, and commenting on them.

When I first saw the wooden figures representing the character of Zacchaeus, struggling in vain to see Jesus over the heads of crowds, it gave me a picture of what it was like to be on the fringes of society, outside of the action and looking in, but not feeling part of it all!

We all looked forward each week to Godly Play, and children enjoying each session, with craft to follow.

I had always kept records of all my music, my dramas and assembly ideas so I could share them with others. That’s when my son Stephen said, “Mam what you need is a website, then people could easily access your work!” When I told him I didn’t have a clue what he was talking about, he asked me to send all my work to him, and in no time at all my website was up and running! 

I can’t thank Stephen enough for his help since then, in keeping the website up to date. i.e.  www.sheilahamil.co.uk 

(I wonder if he regrets his suggestion now, as I’m often in touch with him about it?) But he has enabled me to post all my ideas and music to people all over the world, with free access to anyone who might wish to use them.

I also began producing boxes of all the resources I had used in school assemblies and family services and stored them in a local resource centre, so that other teachers or priests could access them.

I once made a vow that I would never accept one penny myself for any of my creative materials, songs, art, dramas. Even the money we raised with our United Folk albums was given to charity. For some people, their creativity is their livelihood; their families depend on the income and I completely accept and support that, but I was very fortunate in life to be in the position of having had employment, and now a pension, so I was able to fulfil my promise. 

As I write about all of this activity so far, I am truly amazed at how patient and understanding my husband Bob has been through all this, just as I was with him when he had football fixtures out of school hours and on Saturdays, as a PE teacher in a large comprehensive high school. 

We had a good balance in life, we each followed our own interests and enjoyed time together too. 

And if ever I sang anywhere with United Folk or by myself, or took a service elsewhere, he would often be there. I really couldn’t have done what I did though in ministry, without all the support he gave me.