CHAPLAIN’S REPORT
Joy in the
spiritual
kingdom
During my ministry at Guildford Grammar
School I have been mindful of the need
for the Church through the institution and
community that is our School to develop,
maintain and enrich the spiritual lives
of the families of our students and our
Old Guildfordians. Services such as the
Old Guildfordians Dinner and that which
commences the +50 Old Guildfordians Day
make a ready and appreciated contribution
to this ministry. Similarly, I am grateful for
the number of Old Guildfordians, younger
and of more mature years, who join with
contemporary students and families at the
biennial House Services. The Preparatory
School Grandparents’ Day provides another
wonderful opportunity for such links to be
made and maintained.
Each year early in Term 3 we celebrate the
Feast of Ss Priscilla and Aquila, patron saints
of marriage. To this service we invite those
Left: Dr James Walters and Rev’d Dr Gregory Seach.
4
many Old Guildfordians and their spouses
who were married in the Chapel of St
Mary & St George to join us as a means of
celebrating the joy of their marriages. This
initiative has been warmly received as the
number of couples attending grows each
year. On the eve of Mother’s Day we invite
all mothers and their families to join us for
worship as we recall the example of Mary,
Mother of our Lord, and give thanks for
the love and dedication of our mothers.
Each year the Boarding Parents’ Association
identifies one of the boarding community
services to which they encourage and invite
their membership to deliberately join with
their sons at Chapel. The traditional services
of Readings and Carols for Advent and
Christmas, and now Easter, draw members
of all constituent communities within the
School as well as members of local parishes
and the general public.
Last year with the enthusiastic leadership
of Mr David Gething, School Organist and
Director, Chapel Choir, and the eagerness
of the Parish of Holy Trinity, York, not least
Mrs Sally Boyle, a Fellow of our School
Council, and the Parish Priest, the Rev’d Peter
Llewellyn, to be involved, the School through
members of the Chapel Choir and Guild
of Servers was able to conduct a service of
Choral Evensong on the evening of Saturday