Chapel
Our Christian faith is at the very heart of our community and the Chapel is the beating heart of the school building. It is open to all, at all times and often children, staff and parents are to be found gaining solace and strength from its ancient prayerful atmosphere. Once a week we have a Chapel service for each part of the School – Seniors, Juniors and Pre-Prep and the whole school worships together on Mondays and Fridays. On Mondays this takes place in the BSR and is led by the Head Master and members of Staff. Each Form also takes its turn to lead the school in worship once a year. On Friday we are lucky enough to be able to worship in the Cathedral and our services are often attended by a strong gathering of parents who are always fortified beforehand by coffee in school and afterwards by coffee in the Refectory!
As Chaplain I hope to enable the children and adults in our community “catch” God and then stay firmly caught! We vary our worship from the very peaceful and meditative to the wild and exciting – the silence of floating bubbles to the whiz, bang, pop of rocket balloons! All spiritual experience is valued from the very informal to the more formal services such as our termly Eucharists and early morning Chapel Eucharists. If our faith is at the heart of our community, the Eucharist is at the heart of our faith. Great importance is placed on our confirmation classes for Years 6, 7 and 8 which lead to a Diocesan Confirmation service after Easter in the Cathedral.
Our faith is woven into the very fabric of our school life with both sad and joyful events are incorporated into symbolic services which help mark their progress and effect. But it is a light and gentle weaving and everyone is encouraged to question and argue and express their doubts. In encouraging deep reflection it is our hope that the joy that is our faith will fill all our lives.
