On Friday the Bishop of Dorchester, the Rt Revd Colin Fletcher OBE, came to Shiplake College to bless the new College Chapel Wardens and College Prefects as well as licence the Revd Chris Briggs as the new Chaplain.
The service took place in the Parish Church following breakfast with the Bishop in the Great Hall. The Order of Service described the work of a Chapel Warden in the following way: “To represent the Christian witness of his or her House, to give the Chaplain such support as he needs, to be regular in worship, especially in being present for the sacrament of Holy Communion and to be the friend of any who may come to him or her for help.”
The team this year includes S Burnand as Head Chapel Warden, C Bradshaw as Deputy Head Chapel Warden, together with F Focosi and L Sauboua for Burr House; E Guironnet and T Lynskey for Everett House; W Mandondo and B Rivett for Orchard House; E Blois-Brooke and J Lewis for Skipwith House; E Booth and B Howard-Jones for Welsh House; L Worthington and R Seimon for Gilson House; J Powell and P Kenny for Lower School.
The work of the College Prefects was also prescribed in the service: “Leadership at its best requires dedication, humility, good humour, a sense of service to all those around you, compassion, honesty and no small courage.” The team for this year includes our joint Heads of College, E Thomas and R Ash; and Prefects, S Wright, I Ashfield, L Stalder, A Hallam, E Hodson, T Fox, Z Tilley, I Beasley, P Kenny, T Wilkinson and C Thomas.
It was also a great delight to see so many from the local parish at the service. The parish clergy were also present, together with the Church wardens for the benefice. The bell ringers rang magnificently.
It was heartwarming to see all members of the Sixth Form present to support their peers, as they were blessed to undertake their commission as Wardens and Prefects.
The whole service was symbolic of a wonderful unity of purpose for both the Parish and the College.
