A Poignant and Moving Service

The Shiplake community gathered together in the Sports Hall on Friday 12 February to enjoy a full College service. Staff and pupils took their seats to enjoy an address from the guest speaker of the service, the Archdeacon of Oxford the Venerable Martin Gorick. Head Chapel Warden Dom Allen introduced the Archdeacon to the awaiting assembly, and gave a welcome to the service. It was a beautiful service that led nicely into the last day of the half term and a restful half term break.

Head of Lower School pupils Ralph Burrows, himself in Year 8, gave the first reading, Luke verses 37-42. Archdeacon Gorick followed this with a moving address, which focused on the issue of judgements. In a thought-provoking and considered address, Martin discussed how even an average day is filled with the need to make judgements – what to wear, what to eat for breakfast, which way to travel to work or school, to name but a few. He went on to discuss how these kinds of judgements are inevitable and unavoidable, but judgements can also follow a more serious and damaging path. The phrase ‘if we fight fire with fire, we will watch the world burn down’ stayed in the minds’ of the gathered pupils and staff, and felt particularly poignant with the events being faced across the world currently. Students were encouraged to be accepting, living without judging others or themselves harshly.

After this compelling address, the Chamber Choir gave a beautiful performance of Domine, Fili Unigenite, a movement from Vivaldi’s Gloria. It was a stunning performance and a fantastic taster of what’s to come, as the Choir will be performing the entire song on Friday 22 April in the 'Chamber Choir and Scholar Concert' in Christ Church, Henley on Thames. The service ended with a blessing given by the Archdeacon.