Logo

 

Banner Image:   National-News-banner-Purple
Template Mode:   Baptist Times
Icon
    Post     Tweet



Open the Book Celebrates 20th anniversary  

 

Thousands of people across the country are expected to mark the 20th anniversary celebration of Open the Book this summer  



Open the bookOpen The Book is a project which offers primary school children the chance to hear stories from the Bible, from a team of people from local churches, who present the stories during assemblies, using storytelling and drama in a fun and engaging way. 

Celebrations will be held in Brecon, Durham, Knutsford, and Bedford, with the first being at Gloucestershire cathedral on the 14 May at 2pm. This service will be led by the Bishop of Gloucester, the Rt Revd Rachel Treweek.  

Bedford was the first places to take up Open the Book in 1999. There are now 17,223 volunteer storytellers across England and Wales, based in 3,152 schools, bringing the main stories of the Bible to children such as Jonah and the Whale.  

Anita Barker, head teacher at Scott Primary School, Bedford said, ‘Our children are enthralled, and they always remember the stories from week to week. The stories appeal to the younger and the older children. You can tell this when you look at the children, they are so captivated by the stories.’ 

Val Ralston, spokesperson for Open the Book said, ‘I feel overwhelmed to be celebrating 20 years. I never saw this as possible. 

‘Stories like this are still relevant,’ she added. ‘I can’t see anything that is out there on social media that could replace a team acting out a story. The children enjoy being part of something fun.' 

Open the Book is a national organisation, working with a wide range of faith and non-faith based primary schools. It began 20 years ago when a group of church volunteers started going to 30 primary schools to read and act out stories using the Lion Storyteller Bible. After being inspired by this, the project spread into Gloucester in 2001 and by 2007, a national charity was formed. Open the Book then joined Bible Society in 2013 after a significant increase in volunteer numbers.  

The events will celebrate 20 years of storytelling in primary schools and will be attended by teachers and storytellers. Bob Hartman, author of the Lion Storyteller Bible and Professor Paul Williams, CEO of Bible Society will deliver messages at the events. 

Bob said, ‘The fact that the Bible assembly is the best assembly the kids get is remarkable. The fact that we are in all these schools is above and beyond everyone’s dream.’ 

 
 

Baptist Times, 03/05/2019
    Post     Tweet
Welcoming our new Pioneer Ambassadors
Barney Barron and Simon Hall have been appointed as new Baptists Together Pioneer Ambassadors Current ambassadors Ali Boulton and Simon Goddard offer the following statement
Growing hubs, ambassadors, transitional ministry and more
Notes from a recent Baptist Union Smaller Church online gathering, which featured updates from the Small Church Connexion Team and representatives from several Associations
smchstory
Misuse of cross at Unite the Kingdom rally condemned by church leaders
Christian leaders from different theological and political backgrounds have expressed their deep concern about the co-opting of Christian symbols, particularly the cross, during the recent ‘Unite the Kingdom’ rally
Supporting Spurgeon’s College students
How students impacted by the closure of Spurgeon's College have been supported across Baptists Together
New Project Violet podcast season highlights impact on Baptist life
How Baptists are implementing the requests for change is the focus of season three of the Project Violet podcast, which drops on 23 September
Funding for new science faith films which 'can strengthen the Church’s witness'
A new film project that aims to help Baptist churches engage more confidently with science and faith has received national funding
     Latest News 
    Posted: 29/07/2025
    Posted: 04/06/2025
    Posted: 21/05/2025
    Posted: 07/01/2025
     
    Text Size:  
    Small (Default)
    Medium
    Large
    Contrast:  
    Normal
    High Contrast