The chair of sanctuary started as an idea. I wanted to create a piece of art that you could sit in whilst you spoke to God and God listened. I was inspired by the words, ‘The God who speaks’. Rachel Flint, a local community activist and poet, offered her poetry to the project. We look forward to taking it around places of worship in Leeds to help communities reflect on the themes of sanctuary, hospitality, and compassion.
~ Bronagh Daly
The Chair of Sanctuary is an Art Theology project by Leeds Church Institute’s Faith and Creativity Lead, Bronagh Daly. The chair is available for local churches, schools and organisations to spark conversations with congregations, students, and communities.
You can hear more about the making of the Chair of Sanctuary during its residence at Chapel FM’s Writing on Air festival, including poetry from people inspired by the chair, in this special radio show:
The chair was recently placed in Allerton CE Primary School, where it was used to help year 3 pupils reflect on sanctuary and welcome.
The children worked with poet Rachel Flint and art theologian Bronagh Daly to write their own theological reflections together. The poem written by the poet Rachel Flint that inspired so much of 3H’s Arts Fortnight, is called ‘Meditation’.
To grasp what it means to meditate- focus one’s mind for a period of time-the class were encouraged to pause, slow down and respond individually through paint and drawing materials to the calm music playing. Their meditative responses would later be collaged onto their own cardboard chairs.
One parent remarked after seeing how the children interacted with the chair: ’Using art to encourage the kids to share is a wonderful concept. Truly welcome this initiative. We are conscious that children have so much to tell with the little words they know. This will encourage them to share what they feel courageously. Thank you.’
The children thought about the scripture and church traditions that went into the making of the chair, as well as their own personal response to interacting with the artwork, and how people in the city might feel about the chair.
These four elements are central to our theological approach at LCI, and Bronagh led the session encouraging the children to think theologically at a level they could engage with.
Their final payer was a beautiful invitation to connect with others, and live out compassion and sanctuary in practice:
Dear Lord, help us to inspire and collaborate with each other. Give us opportunities to encourage others to show kindness. Remind us that we are all unique and that we are surrounded in your love. Let all of our inner wisdom speak. We ask this through Christ our Lord. Amen.