Primary Schools
This afternoon at 4pm there will be a special service at St Francis School. It will be the last one that Sally and her team leads there. The service and its future will officially be in the hands of St John’s Haydon Wick from today. (If you listen to last week’s sermon on the podcast you will hear more about this.) Members of the church will be very welcome if you would like to join us there today.
We expect there to be a well-attended Christmas service in St Francis at 4pm on Christmas Eve. We are hoping to put on our Christingle Play. So we definitely know where we are going in December.
The challenge is for the rest of 2018. We will need to be explore various avenues.
One thing is certain. St Andrew’s is committed to developing a service at 4pm in Tadpole Farm School. This is a brand-new Church of England Academy and developing close links with the parents and children on that recently built estate there will be part of the mission and outreach of the church.
Secondary School
You may also be aware that a new a Church Of England Secondary School is being built in Wichelstowe. So far the only visible part of the school are its foundations. But it is coming.
Church secondary schools are relatively rare. It will be called The Deanery and the architect’s plans for the school and its surrounding area are very impressive. The headteacher-designate, Linda Cunliffe has been appointed. The school itself will not open until 2019.
Last week I spoke about the very different ethos of a church school where pupils are encourage to explore spiritual issues, to understand the teachings of Jesus and to share in the worship and practice of the Church of England. The Deanery will be in the parish of Wroughton, so we will want to keep them in our prayers as they aim to develop a chaplaincy within the school itself for both staff and pupils.