A CELEBRATION of 200 years of church schools brought together 1,700 pupils and staff for a special service in York Minster.

Yesterday’s event for all 127 Church of England schools in the Diocese of York was led by the Archbishop of York, Dr John Sentamu, and featured music, drama and art.

It was followed by a giant picnic in Dean’s Park, and afternoon workshops with venues including the York Theatre Royal, National Railway Museum, Castle Museum and many city centre churches. Dr Sentamu said: “This is the first time all of the diocese’s church schools have come together for an event. 2011 is the bi-centenary of the Church of England National Society, the body that established hundreds of church schools in the 19th century and continues to champion, support and promote Christian education today. The bi-centenary is being celebrated across the country and this is our chance to celebrate the heritage of the National Society and reflect on what it means to be a Church school today.”