SCHOOLCHILDREN in Worcestershire will play a key role in today’s visit by the Archbishop of Canterbury.

Regency High School pupils will greet the Most Reverend Justin Welby as he arrives by train to Shrub Hill station.

They will sing for him before giving him a lift to Worcester Cathedral in their minibus.

Headteacher Sara Harding said: “Our music and art students have been working particularly hard to prepare for the visit and have made flags in the shape of a bishop’s mitre adorned with Christian symbols such as fish and crosses and our music students have practised ‘This Little Light of Mine’ to sing at the station.

“They will be accompanied by ‘Signalong’, a simplified sign language that we use in school, and also our photography students have their cameras at the ready to record the whole exciting event.”

At the Cathedral, children from 74 primary schools from across the diocese of Worcester will undertake activities based on the theme of prayer. Pupils from eight secondary schools will then put questions to the Archbishop.

The 450 schoolchildren will join together for songs and hear from the Archbishop.

As part of the visit, Olive Rowe, 10, from Pendock CE Primary, Catarina Mesquita-Reynolds, aged nine, from St Richards CE First school in Evesham and year 5 pupil Rebecca Ferring, from St Clements CE Primary in Worcester have written their own prayers.

This afternoon Archbishop Justin will visit the Three Counties Showground to talk to the rural community.

Tonight he will be at the the Worcester Arena for an interview with Jeremy Vine before taking questions from a 1,600-strong audience.

Tomorrow, he will enjoy a breakfast meeting with around 80 business leaders from across the diocese at Worcestershire Cricket club.

Then he will lead an event at the Cathedral for clergy and lay ministers.

Sam Setchell, diocese communications officer, said: “It’s great that so many people from around the diocese will be able to meet him and hear his faith story.

“It’s a real honour to welcome Archbishop Justin to Worcestershire and Dudley and share with him some of the brilliant things our churches are doing in their local communities.”