Work Experience - Case Studies 

Article taken from Lancashire Evening Telegraph, 16th March 2006.

When teenager Matthew Crow came to choosing his work experience he heard a divine calling to spend a day with the Bishop.

Yesterday the 15-year-old found out what life was like for the spiritual leader for the Church of England in most of Lancashire.

In what is thought to be a first for The Diocese of Blackburn, he joined the Bishop of Blackburn, the Rt Rev Nicholas Reade for breakfast and stayed with him for a day of engagements.

It included holy duties but also daily activities a business meeting, plenty of car travel. carrying heavy bags, and a heap of letters and e-mails to digest.

Matthew, from Chorley, a pupil at St Michael's C of E High School in the town, said: "I wanted to do my work experience with the diocese because I am a Christian and I am interested in the different interests the Bishop has, like missionary planning."

Classmates had chosen more traditional workplaces to do their placement such as shops and offices, he said, but he had his sights set on a fortnight looking at how the diocese operates including a day with the Bishop.

The Bishop said: "I have never had a student with me on work placement since I have been a bishop.

"Every day is different and, in a way, I am a little sorry because today has been more different than usual.

"We want to encourage young people to become clergy and we want to encourage young people in their vocation as Christians."

The youngster's first task of the day after breakfast at Bishop's House, Ribchester Road, Blackburn, was to navigate him to Ripley St Thomas C of E High School in Lancaster and help with his luggage.

Here the Bishop spoke at an assembly for a member of staff who was leaving the school.

Then it was off to Warrington for a meeting with the chairman of the North West Regional Development Agency, a Government body which aims to regenerate the region.

After a hot drink at a service station it was back to Bishop's House to go through the reams of letter and e-mail correspondence the Bishop receives every day.

Matthew said the time spent travelling with the Bishop proved invaluable and added: "After seeing how the church works I think it is a possibility I might go into the ministry.

"Perhaps I would like to be Bishop one day, although it is hard to get that position.

"I couldn't go with that unless I felt that God was asking me to be in the ministry. God does work in strange and mysterious ways."

Bishop Reade said: "It has been great to have the company and to be able to hopefully encourage somebody to understand what the ministry is about."