Gamechangers in Portsmouth and Winchester Cathedrals

Inspired by Antony Gormley’s “Field for the British Isles’ artwork, over a thousand individual clay figures made by primary school leavers across the Portsmouth and Winchester dioceses have gone on display in Portsmouth and Winchester cathedrals.

Inspiring young lives: Gamechangers in Portsmouth and Winchester cathedrals

These small clay figures are part of a year-long schools project called “Gamechangers” which asked school leavers to think about those who make a difference in society and how they too could be agents for social change in their schools and communities.

Year 6 pupils from C of E schools each created their clay sculpture and then brought their figures to their local cathedral for a Leavers’ Service to mark the end of primary school – creating mass art installations at both Portsmouth and Winchester Cathedrals.

Portsmouth Cathedral hosted more than 1,300 Year 6 pupils over four days of activity workshops and Leavers’ Services last week and hundreds of clay figures are now standing in the east end of the cathedral.

The Bishop of Portsmouth, the Rt Rev Jonathan Frost, led two of the four services last week at Portsmouth Cathedral, blessing clay figures as they were brought to the front. He talked to the children about Jude Bellingham’s role as a gamechanger for the England football team. He asked the 11-year-olds who might have been a gamechanger in Bellingham’s life, including his parents, friends and those who helped to develop his skills.

“I can’t be a gamechanger like Jude Bellingham, but we can all be gamechangers in our own way,” he said. “Look at your hands and feet. I believe God gave us hands to act kindly towards others and feet to move to those who need help. 

“When you move to your new schools, don’t forget that you have been made to be a gamechanger!”

Eleven-year-old Amelia-Mae from St George’s C of E Primary School in Portsmouth, said:

“I like how the statues are all different. I liked making mine a lot, as I like the feel of the clay. Seeing them all displayed here is great – they look like a real crowd!”

Last month, Winchester Cathedral too hosted leavers’ services and the pupils’ individual sculptures went on display in the cathedral crypt alongside Gormley’s famous ‘Sound II’ sculpture.

“The sculptures symbolise coming together to make something bigger because on their own they don’t look like much but then when they come together they will look massive. They’ll be a sea of people all together. I think it will help me and other people realise that if we work together we can do something amazing. It’s making me realise how you can make a difference if you want to. “ Isaac, aged 11.