1. NORES Supporting Catholic Education and Formation
This PowerPoint is designed to explore the theme of St Edward the Confessor
Top and tail this PowerPoint with
your own way of
introducing / closing an assembly
Eg. Sign of the Cross
Song
Prayer
School Prayer
Take as much or as little detail, from the slides and notes,
appropriate to your setting
MAKE IT YOUR OWN!
NORES Supporting Catholic Education and Formation
NORES is the Office for Religious Education, Evangelisation, Catechesis and Schools in the Diocese of Northampton. Registered Charity:

3. In the year 1005 a baby boy was born to the Anglo Saxon King Ethelred
and his wife Emma of Normandy.
They named him Edward.
Life would have been very different at that time.
People lived in very simple wooden houses.
They grew their own food.
They didn’t travel far as there were no roads or railways.

4. Shortly after Edward was born England was invaded by the Vikings.
King Ethelred was drawn into battle.
Edward’s mother was anxious to keep her children safe
so she sent Edward and his brother Alfred to stay with their Uncle in France.

5. Edward stayed in France for twenty five years.
During this time he prayed every day.
He treated people kindly
and always helped those in any need.
In 1041 he came back to England to be King.
Edward was crowned King on 8th June 1042.
Edward ruled over the land with gentleness
and the people lived in peace.
Edward had made a promise during his time in France
That if he ever became King of England
he would give thanks to God by making a pilgrimage to Rome.

6. However, not everyone was happy to have Edward as their King.
There were three powerful Earls who began to stir up trouble for Edward.
They tried to seize his crown.
Edward then did not want to leave England.

7. Edward wrote a letter to the Pope (Pope Benedict IX)
asking to release him from the promise he had made to go to Rome.
The Pope decided to release Edward from his promise
but he asked in return that Edward build a great church in England
in honour of St Peter.
Edward agreed and built this church – next slide

8. Westminster Abbey on the banks of the River Thames in London.

9. Edward died on 5th January, 1066.
He was buried in Westminster Abbey in front of the high altar.
As he died Edward said:
‘Do not cry.
I am not to die but to live.
I trust I shall see the Lord’s goodness in the land of the living.’

10. After his death Edward became even more famous than before.
He had lived a life of compassion and generosity towards the poor and the needy.
Thousands of people visited his grave to ask for his prayers.

11. Edward was declared a saint in 1161 and he became known as
St Edward the Confessor
because all of his life he had ‘confessed’ to his faith in Jesus Christ.
He had never been afraid to tell people that he believed in God.

12. In 1163 St Edwards body was dug up and moved to a new tomb in the Abbey.
St Edward was the Patron Saint of England
until he was replaced by St George in 1348.

13. We ask St Edward to pray with us today.

14. For all those who visit Westminster Abbey
For all world leaders
St Edward pray for us
For all those who visit Westminster Abbey
For all those in need
For the lonely
For the homeless
For all those who have died.
Spend a moment in quiet reflection
We join together in the prayer that Jesus taught us:
Our Father......

15. you gave St Edward a spirit of patience, gentleness and generosity.
Loving God,
you gave St Edward a spirit of
patience, gentleness and generosity.
Just as he showed his devotion to you
by acting justly,
loving tenderly
and walking humbly
may we also dedicate our lives
to the building of your Kingdom
through Christ our Lord.
Amen.
Say the prayer together
or someone lead the prayer and all join in with the ‘Amen’

16. gave us an example of how to follow Jesus.
St Edward
gave us an example of how to follow Jesus.
Talk about the things St Edward did on a daily basis
Eg. praying
Doing good deeds
Being kind to the poor and those in need.
Print off this slide onto A4 card
And give one to each class to place on their prayer table for the coming week.
Finish your assembly with the Sign of the Cross
How can I be like St Edward in what I say and do?