Aluredian 11
T
his past year our Chapel worship
has, as always, followed the seasons
of the Church's year and the
rhythms of school and national life. The
school community has worshipped
together, embracing one another's diversity
and sharing joys and sorrows alike.
In the Michaelmas term we were visited
by a Russian quartet who held a concert
in the Chapel and sang at the College
Eucharist. At half-term our newly
established Patronal Festival was held; a
joyful celebration of our Patron Saints St
Mary and St Andrew, and King Alfred,
after whom King's is named. We sang
hymns by Vincent Stuckey Stratton Coles,
Senior Chaplain of King's at the turn of
the 19th century, prayed King Alfred's
prayer, and went away rejoicing that the
King Alfred half-term holiday had begun.
After half-term All Souls' Day was upon
us and many pupils and staff sent in the
names of loved ones who had died to be
read out at the All Souls' Day Eucharist.
This has become an important part of our
calendar over the past four years; an
opportunity to give thanks and remember
that we are part of a great company of
those who have gone before us.
Remembrance Day Eucharist was once
again a very moving occasion. It is the
tradition at King's for an Old Aluredian
who is currently serving in HM Forces or
who has military connections, to lay the
wreath on behalf of the Old Aluredian
Club. This year it was our privilege to
welcome back Carl Brindley, who was in
Bishop Fox house and left King's in
2005.
The Advent Choral Evensong catapulted
us into the Christmas season and the last
weeks of a long term. The service of nine
lessons with carols ended the term. The
Senior Provost of the Woodard
Corporation, Canon Brendan Clover, was
in attendance with Bishop John Kirkham,
Acting Provost of Taunton. The Choir led
the singing of carols and Christmas
hymns, and the nine lessons were read by
representatives of the whole school
community.
During the Lent term the spotlight is quite
rightly on our annual service of
Confirmation and First Communion. This
year the Bishop of Taunton, The Right
Reverend Peter Maurice, confirmed 17
pupils. They are Lauren Messenger, Ellie
Cooke, Gordon McLeod, Charles
MacEacharn, Tom Counsell, Olivia Rose,
Petra Harding, Hamish Manger, Alex
Leung, Catherine Grace, Grace Murray,
William Potter, Henry Biggs, Alexander
Brown, Felicity Hamilton, Josh Stickland
and Maddie Beaumont. May God hold
them in the palm of his hand throughout
their lives in his service.
A choir of parents, staff and pupils sings
Choral Evensong once a term. I always
enjoy singing the priest's part. Our
thanks to Chris Holmes who teaches us
the music every term and never fails to
get the best possible sound out of a
motley crew.
The Summer term Leavers' walkabout
was very moving this year, pupils
speaking and singing about their
memories with an obvious love for their
school. The following day I preached at
the Leavers' Eucharist, reminding the
leavers that without endings you cannot
have beginnings and not all tears are an
evil. I observed that the lives of young
adults today seem to have been
perversely structured. Members of the
most supervised generation in British
history, through childhood and teenage
years, have been monitored, tutored,
coached and honed to an unprecedented
degree. But in spite of this, they now
enter a world that is unprecedentedly
wide open and unstructured.
During the year the Oasis meditations
have continued to draw boarders into the
Chapel. Oasis is a voluntary devotion in
Chapel after prep on a Tuesday evening
led by pupils and followed by hot
chocolate and doughnuts. I have also
continued to offer meditation in Chapel
on weekday mornings before breakfast as
well as on Sunday evenings and at the
beginning of Religious Studies lessons.
Many pupils have said that they are
intrigued and are enjoying the experience.
My thanks especially to Mr Albery,
Mr Campbell and the Choir for all their
work week by week. It is much
appreciated and enhances our worship
greatly. My thanks also to the members
of staff who have so willingly assisted
with the chalice, the Headmaster, Mrs
McSwiggan, Mr Smith, Mrs Butler, Mr
Wood, Mr Lang, Mr McKegney, Mr
McHenry and Mr Mason. We also
welcomed Miss Dora Antoniou who has
kept the Chapel clean and adorned the
sanctuary with flowers every week.
The charities which benefited this year
from our Chapel fund are the British
Legion, the Christmas Stars project,
ShelterBox, the Diocese of Bath and
Wells Zambia Appeal, the Woodard
Langalanga School appeal, the Go
Commando Christmas fund, Arthritis
Research UK and the Red Cross.
Chapel
by Father Mark