Among the many differences here, church and state are not separate. The official religion is Anglican, or Church of England. A sordid story in and of it itself, one of the many King Henrys dissolved the existing church because it would not grant him a fourth divorce, and instated the Church of England to do his will. Several bible variations lie in the book corner of each classroom, and the children have 15 minutes of religious education everyday, in every school in "the kingdom". The vicar and bishop often come in to give the lessons, and it is quite a big deal. Before your American sensibilities get offended though, it is different. The owd pagan ways never left the church here! A prominent part of the education is singing songs and preparing for festivals. For my children's harvest festival, the entire school walked to their affiliated church. (This church has been here since the Saxon period and there is a cemetery for Saxon warriors along the front walk.) The children brought fruits and vegetables and decorated the entire place, laying them at the altars, windows, doorways, and on tables. They brought food for the poor, performed a play about how a turnip grows, and said a prayer for the wind, rain, and soil who bring us our food. Then the entire school broke into songs with such enthusiasm that I cried. The lyrics...Cauliflowers fluffy and cabbages green, the broad beans are laying in their blankety bed.
Joy, Tears, Life!
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