ALMOST 200 GCSE and A level students from six Cheshire schools attended a conference at Chester Cathedral.

The conference, celebrating religious education month and contributing to the national ‘Biblefresh’ year, was hosted jointly by the cathedral and the Chester and Stoke-on-Trent Methodist District.

The teenagers were welcomed by Canon Jane Brooke, who is responsible for the cathedral’s education work.

The event saw a return to Chester of the Rev Joanna Jepson, a former curate of St Michael’s, Plas Newton.

In her keynote address, the Rev Joanna spoke on abortion rights and the position of women in society, both historically when the law was passed and currently in Britain which has the highest abortion rate in Europe.

‘A’ level students worked together during the day in sessions ranging from business ethics to atheism and homosexuality.

GCSE students discussed the Rev Joanna’s speech and also took part in seminars covering marriage, how to make moral choices and crime and conversion.

The conference supported students’ revision in theology, ethics, philosophy and RE for their forthcoming GCSE and ‘A ‘ level exams

Chaplains and Christian workers offered students a chance to pray and reflect on what they had heard.

Organisers Heather Staniland and Nicola Preston thanked speakers, teachers, chaplains and students for their input to what as described as “ a successful and engaging event”.