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On Tuesday 11 February, a group of year 12 students, accompanied by Ms Panayi, Mr Jewkes and Mr Broughton visited St Paul's Cathedral to hear Chine McDonald talk about her new book 'Unmaking Mary'. Chine is the Director of the thinktank Theos which aims to foster discourse around religion and public life and has previously spoken at Westminster City School.

The main thesis of her book is that the figure of Mary, mother of Jesus, is regularly displayed as being an example of perfect motherhood. Through the images of Mary and narratives around her, this idea has been carefully constructed but can also be damaging to real mothers as the ideals it presents are often at odds with the reality of being a mother. Chine's carefully crafted talk introduced students to a number of themes, and she took time to answer a range of questions.

Students engaged really well with these topics. Year 12 student at Westminster City School, John, said:

"The trip to St Paul’s Cathedral was truly unforgettable. The cathedral itself was beautiful, especially the intricate designs that adorned the ceilings. The talk we attended was particularly meaningful to me as it shed light on the challenges mothers face, offering a powerful reminder that motherhood is never easy or perfect.

"I would love to visit again!"

Kornelija, who is Year 12 at Westminster City School, said:

"My trip to St Paul’s Cathedral opened my eyes to a deeper and more spiritual understanding of motherhood. Chine McDonald discussed the Virgin Mary and how she’s often portrayed as the ‘perfect mother.’ However, motherhood doesn’t need to be ‘perfect’ or ‘white,’ as everyone’s experience is unique. Just because Mary's pregnancy was portrayed as ‘ideal’ without labour pains, doesn't diminish the significance of other experiences.

"Chine McDonald also highlighted how the Virgin Mary, despite being a holy figure, remains a powerful and relatable mother. Her motherly instincts are reflected in all human mothers, showing that they share much in common with Mary."

We intend to continue to expose students to the various talks and lectures going on in London on themes related to religion and philosophy.