Suggestions to help students experience a visit of the cathedral that will be both memorable and informative.

Talk to us about your visit
Any of the following activities would need to be discussed at the time of booking your tour. They are suggestions only with a view to assisting students experience the beauty of one of the most significant church buildings in Australia.

The recommended time for a group visit from schools is about 40 minutes.

For more information, please contact:

Ph 07 3835 2231
Fx 07 3832 3173
email: ccahill@anglicanbrisbane.org.au

Look into a sacred space
Upon entering St John's the group will be seated in the central nave for a brief welcome before commencing the tour. Allow a few moments of quietness and be open to another world.

Experience the grandeur of the architecture. Appreciate the beauty of the stone quarried from the earth and arranged in such beautiful proportions. Marvel at the tall, slender pillars supporting graceful pointed arches and the stone vaulted ceilings.

Sense the presence of God.

Touch ancient stone
In the Baptistry, touch stone that is 350 million years old. See fossils in the form of shells and the skeletons of coral polyps clearly visible in the pillars of the font.

A FONT holds holy water which is used in Baptism, and is the place where Christians are initiated.

Perform a piece of choral music
Take your places in the choir stalls and imagine what it would be like to be a cathedral chorister.

Perhaps one or more of your students could prepare a short musical item to be delivered unaccompanied from the stalls. Listen for the cathedral echo.

Take a seat on a 'misericord' - a monk's 'mercy seat' as seen in the European cathedrals.

Archibishop for the day
A student from the group may get to play the role of Archbishop and occupy the 'cathedra' the Archbishop's seat.

Your guide will then explain the role of Bishops within the Anglican Church

Process like medieval monks
Follow your guide in procession around the ambulatory in similar fashion to the liturgical use of this cathedral space.

A reading from scripture
From the brass Lectern, in the shape of an eagle, a student may read a short passage of scripture.

If the school organiser considers this activity appropriate, we recommend that the student appointed prepare for this task in advance and brings his/her own text.

Say a prayer
The cathedral is most of all a place of prayer in our city of Brisbane.

If a student is comfortable with the offering of a prayer on behalf of the school community, this could be done as the group visits the prayer corner in the cathedral. Advance preparation is recommended.

Brass rubbing
St John's has a number of brasses which are used specifically for the Brass Rubbing Workshops.

Time does not permit the inclusion of this activity in our regular tours of the cathedral. This activity must be booked in advance, and costs $3 per student to pay for materials. Groups of about 15 can be accommodated at one time. Activity lasts about 20 minutes.