As part of a new Meet the Team feature, we will be introducing you to people and teams who help make a difference to the daily lives of our pupils.
Birkenhead School has had the privilege to welcome our new Chaplain, Father Mark Turner, who started his role at the School in August
Here at Birkenhead School, we thought it would be nice to get to know Father Mark and what exciting new ideas he is bringing to the School.
Born in Chester and now living in Little Neston, Father Mark was a teacher at the Church of England school, Woodchurch High School. Ordained as a Priest two years ago by the Bishop of Chester, the Bishop of Birkenhead and the Bishop of Stockport, Father Mark is currently the Curate of Eastham Parish where he is fully engaged in the parish, with Sunday Service, weddings and baptisms.
Speaking of his new appointment, Father Mark said, “Although I am a Church of England Priest, I am a Chaplain to people of all faiths and none. I want to engage with pupils of all faiths and ensure everyone is catered for and that we encourage and uphold people’s personal and family beliefs.”
He continued, “We’re going to use Christian, specifically Anglican, structures for collective worship in School but, whilst we’re developing our Anglican identity, this doesn’t mean there isn’t room for other ways to express faith.”
As well as ensuring a very inclusive community at the School, Father Mark spoke of what new changes he plans to bring about in the School, including the addition of a one-way Chaplaincy phone and email service that will allow people to text or email prayer requests and Father Mark will spend time at the end of services in silent prayer to fulfil those requests.
Another addition Father Mark plans on implementing is a Chapel blog, creating a space to respond to issues raised in Chapel, thereby giving the option of a two-way approach for those who are looking for more guidance.
A key point that Father Mark wanted to make people aware of is that he is not just a Chaplain for pupils, but for all staff, the OB Society, the leavers and also for parents as well, offering moral, spiritual and a shoulder to listen to worries for all.
Something that Father Mark finds a crucial part of his role, and something he is looking forward to continue, is to build upon the community already here, to further the togetherness, having the space to express and to get to know pupils on a one-to-one basis, celebrating the individual and ensuring that we provide a bespoke, tailored approach to cater for all pupils’ needs.
Commenting on his own style as Chaplain, Father Mark spoke about having an informal and collaborative style, preferring to get to know people and build up relationships slowly, understanding about people and common interests.
Discussing fond school memories, Father Mark spoke about how his favourite subject was Religious Studies in school, due to the fact that he likes finding out about all types of people, what makes them think, what motivates them, believing that religion is a major factor in that.
Discussing the role of religion in schools, Father Mark spoke about how this was still hugely important now, just as much as it have ever been, the only change being that in former years there was a set stance on religion and now faith and religion is a more personal thing for people, “People are now signing up to faith in a more intimate way, they don’t necessarily shout loudly about it. I can see how God works in individuals and the effect he has, and his love has, on people, enabling them to do a lot. Maybe we don’t shout about it now but it can still change the way we live our lives, even in a subtle way. However, its place now, just as much as then, in such a multi-cultural society, plays an important and informative part of our lives and gives us the framework for us to believe ourselves.”
As well as discussing what changes and ideas he would implement, Father Mark discussed how privileged the School had been recently, to welcome the Most Reverend, Archbishop of York, Dr John Sentamu, who had said how impressed he had been with the students’ questions and interests and had expressed how much he had enjoyed himself on his visit to the School.
Father Mark spoke about how important this visit had been for the students and how the Archbishop had brought with him two messages, faith and how faith has been available to him and of the social gospel and social equality. Father Mark said of the Archbishop’s talk, “He encouraged us to think about others in the world and those we share the planet with, who may be very different from ourselves.”
He continued, “The Archbishop of York is a very inspiring person, we heard how he stood up to the regime in Uganda, how he was imprisoned and also the variety of God’s calling on his life; he was a lawyer, a judge, a priest and an archbishop. He came from an average background and now he is a world changer, whilst still living in the real world and in the reality of the world. He was able to have life conversations with the students, discussing social responsibility; he hopefully challenged them, he certainly challenged me.”
In honour of the visit, there has been a Commissioning Service held, where a Bible reading was read and a prayer was said for the Archbishop. Dr Sentamu requested a copy of this prayer after he had heard it,
Heavenly Father, Giver of every good gift, we thank You for blessing us with Archbishop John Sentamu. Pour out your Holy Spirit upon him and sanctify him as Your ardent servant, consecrated in holiness. Mould him into the true likeness of Your son to be a compassionate shepherd to Your people. Keep him steadfast in times of trial, ever faithful in obeying Your will and zealous in proclaiming Christ to the world. May Your divine wisdom guide his every decision, and Your strength sustain him in his apostolic ministry. We ask this through our Lord Jesus Christ, Your Son who lives and reigns with You and the Holy Spirit, one God forever and ever, Amen.
We wish Father Mark Turner well in his new role as Chaplain and look forward to seeing his inspiring ideas implemented into our wonderful School community.
To find out more from Father Mark, you can follow him on his Twitter account - @FrMarkTurner1