There’s a Place
Notre-Dame Cathedral is due to reopen on 8 December 2024
by Brian Radcliffe
Suitable for Whole School (Sec)
Aims
To encourage us to consider the importance of places for retreat and mindfulness.
Preparation and materials
- You will need the PowerPoint slides that accompany this assembly (There’s a Place) and the means to display them.
Assembly
- Show Slide 1.
This is the Cathedral of Notre-Dame de Paris, before April 2019. - In the early evening of 15 April 2019, a small fire broke out at the base of the spire of Notre-Dame, Paris’ medieval cathedral. The fire spread rapidly, consuming the wooden spire and roof. There was severe damage to the upper walls, but thankfully, most of the priceless artwork and internal features were saved.
- Show Slides 2 to 4.
Throughout the world, worshippers and tourists were devastated. - Since then, renovation work on the cathedral has been carried out.
Show Slides 5 to 7.
It has involved more than five years of painstaking restoration, but on Sunday 8 December 2024, the Cathedral of Notre-Dame is due to be officially reopened. Much work still remains to return the building to its former glory, but this special place will once again be open to the public. - But why was the cathedral built in the first place?
It was the brainchild of the twelfth-century French king, Louis VII. He wanted a building that would symbolize Paris’ power politically, economically, intellectually and culturally - not only within France, but throughout the world. It was a church because life in Paris and elsewhere at that time revolved around Christianity. It was a good idea to involve God in all projects. - Over the centuries, Notre-Dame became much more than a showpiece for a ruler. There has been daily worship, soaking the building in praise and prayer to God. For many, it has been a place of pilgrimage and refuge, a safe place to go when life seems overwhelming, a special place.
- There’s a long history of special places in the UK too.
Since neolithic times, there appear to have been gatherings at specific locations to celebrate times of year. Stonehenge is an obvious example, but there are many others.
As Christianity spread through the UK, churches, abbeys and cathedrals became focuses for worship and pilgrimage, particularly when the grave of a saint or other significant person was housed there. They became special places.
These places were important in terms of law and order too. A church was a place of sanctuary. Someone who had been accused of a crime could find refuge in a church. They were safe there until their innocence could be proven.
Time for reflection
Ask the students, ‘Do we still need special places nowadays, especially as church attendance is declining?’
Pause to allow time for thought or discussion.
Many people believe that special places are even more useful today in a world that is increasingly speeded up and complex. In fact, many of us have our special places already. They may not be churches, but many of us here will have a place where we go to find peace.
A special place is somewhere that we feel safe, that is comforting, that enables us to put today’s issues to the back of our minds. For some, it might be a quiet place, utterly deserted, whereas others might find lots of noise and people helpful to drown out the thoughts that press down on them. Our special place might be somewhere we return to often, when walking the dog, looking at a marvellous view or meeting with friends. Some people talk about ‘thin places’, where it’s easy to be in touch with what they believe.
So, where might these special places be? Some locations might have already sprung to mind while we’ve been pondering this topic. Some will be buildings, especially old churches and ruins. Some will be viewpoints that present us with a vast panorama, maybe with a sunset or a starry night sky. Some may be visited only once or twice a year. A festival such as Glastonbury or Greenbelt is a special place for many, and a favourite holiday destination can be a special place too.
For some of us, our special place is our bedroom, or a space in school. Is there a place where we feel safe, at peace and able to sort out life’s problems?
Pause to allow time for thought.
Is there somewhere you retreat to that is an oasis, where stress can dissipate and problems can be sorted out? Somewhere that you can emerge from with a smile on your face and in an optimistic frame of mind?
Pause to allow time for thought.
Notre-Dame de Paris is reopening soon. Why not pay a visit to your special place and reopen its connections for you? We all need time for rest, reflection and connection.
