The Chapel
The Chapel, founded in 1882 and dedicated in 1883 by the then Bishop of Chester, is situated centrally on the campus and so serves as a clear and visible reminder of the School’s Christian character. The building itself is Victorian in style and the interior, once sparse, now tells the story of the school community over the years through the windows, plaques, memorials and many items of furniture and decoration which have been donated by, or in memory of, past pupils and staff
All pupils are eligible to participate in voice trials to join the Chapel Choir. Membership represents something of a commitment as the Choir sings Evensong each Sunday in term time, as well as participating in weekday and other School services, but members form a strong team and develop personal skills such as team work, responsibility and confidence as well as the more obvious musical ability. The Chapel Choir occasionally sings services in Chester Cathedral and each year the choristers spend a holiday either singing a week's services in one of the English cathedrals or undertaking a concert tour abroad. In recent years the Choir has visited Exeter, Truro, Salisbury, Prague, Florence and Venice.
The School enjoys excellent links with the Diocese and with the local parish church of St Saviour’s, Oxton. The School Chaplain, Mrs Lesley Rendle, is a Reader at St Saviour’s and the School values the tradition of welcoming a visiting preacher from across the Diocese, or sometimes even further afield, to the weekly Sunday services of Choral Evensong. All pupils, parents and friends of the School, as well as members of the general public, are welcome to join us at these regular services.
Pupils attend a service in Chapel each week (those in Years 7 and 8 attend twice a week). These services include traditional hymns, a passage of Scripture , a short address and an opportunity for prayer and/or personal reflection. They are intended to be accessible to pupils of all faiths and none and, as well as celebrating the major festivals and seasons of the Church year, themes are chosen to reflect current issues within the School or wider community, as well as issues of particular relevance to members of school. There is an emphasis on the spiritual development of pupils who are encouraged to seek their own responses to the unanswerable questions of life, such as: Who am I? What am I worth? What is worth striving for? Is there meaning in the universe? How do I decide what is right? How should I treat others? Should I please myself or please others? Pupils are encouraged to reflect on the theme within the context of Christian teachings and to apply this to their own life experiences. It is, however, recognised that not all will find a Christian framework relevant and there is plenty of opportunity for individuals to construct their own moral and ethical framework and to examine and test its effectiveness as a rule for life.
Pupils are encouraged to challenge and question what is said in Chapel and suggestions for developing worship or specific issues to explore are always greatly welcomed by the Chaplain. It is hoped to develop in the future an even greater role for members of School to contribute to the planning and leading of week day Chapel services. For those who wish to explore their own personal faith in more depth, the Chaplain is always available for discussion, the School hosts a lively Christian Union and there is a regular opportunity for those over 10 years of age, after a period of preparation, to be confirmed at a special service in the School Chapel.
In addition to leading the regular Sunday service of Choral Evensong and the weekday Chapel services, the School Chaplain plays a role in the School pastoral care system. As well as a regular ‘drop in’ time, any member of the school community is welcome to contact Mrs Rendle and arrange a chat. This may be to talk through a difficult situation such as bereavement or a problem with friends or it may be a home or school related issue which is creating stress or difficulty. Sometimes, particularly around exam time, it can just be good to have somewhere within School to gather thoughts, put things into context and explore options. Clearly there are other members of staff who also fulfil this role but the Chaplain role is unique in that it stands outside of the teaching system and can offer the opportunity of a more neutral sounding board.
To contact the chaplain, Mrs Lesley Rendle please email chaplain@birkenheadschool.co.uk.
For details of the Sunday Chapel Services, please click here
