Church Links
We have strong links with All Saints Church www.allsaintsboynehill.org.uk and St Peters Church www.stpetersmaidenhead.org.uk
My name is RevJo Ellington and I am the chaplain at Altwood school. I am also part of the ministry team at St Peters Church and St Marks church in Maidenhead. I am married with 2 children, 2 stepchildren, 2 cats and 1 dog!
I joined Altwood school as chaplain in 2021 and have loved being a part of the school ever since. On joining the school, Fr Jeremy Harris and I quickly started a lunchtime group which the pupils named "Chapel and chats,” this has grown since 2021 and now we regularly have 10-15 pupils coming along from years 8, 9 and 10. We play games and pray, we discuss topics - big and small and what the bible says about them and eat brownies!! Last week I was asked for my favourite bible verse by a pupil, it was a tricky question! I always enjoy our chapel and chats meetings and I am always impressed by the honest questioning and spirituality of the pupils as well as the support the pupils give each other.
Last term, we ran an Alpha youth course for the first time for a year 11 group, which was an amazing time of questioning and deepening faith. We also took pupils on a retreat day of prayer in Oxford, which was enjoyed by all.
It is a privilege to work at Altwood school and support pupils of all ages. I love having conversations about life and God from wherever the pupils are, whether they are new Christians, have other faiths or no faith at all. All of life is a journey of learning and learning about God never ends.
Jo
My name is Fr Jeremy Harris and this September I will have served 20 years as parish priest of All Saints church, Boyne Hill. Over the time of my ministry in Maidenhead I have had the privilege of regularly visiting Altwood Church of England School. I have contributed through leading assemblies on themes such as strength in adversity, hope, knowing that we are valued, flourishing within the community and wellbeing to name just a few. I have, for the last few years, supported the wonderful ministry of the school Chaplain The Revd Jo Ellington through her successful Chapel and Chats, Alpha courses, and developing overseas mission through the charity ‘Street Kids Direct.’
Over the years the church of All Saints has had the joy of hosting the wonderful Christmas services of Altwood School. This year, following the Christmas service, the church and the school music department formed an excellent partnership which led to Altwood students joining the church choir and playing musical instruments. The students also presented the last few days of the life of the great German theologian Dietrich Bonhoeffer, whose Christian belief in standing up for justice led him to fight the cause against his own country and Hitler before and during the second World War. This partnership led to a moving service to commemorate the 80th Anniversary of VE Day.
There are plans in place for the school to join the church in celebrating All Saints Day with the Bishop of Oxford, The Rt Revd Steven Croft in November 2025.
Perhaps one of the most inspirational contacts made by Revd Jo Ellington and myself has been sharing ministry with Duncan Dyason MBE who set up the charity Street Kids Direct in Guatemala. His work has enabled vulnerable street children from Guatemala City to find hope in their lives through education. Recently, in a shared assembly when we were looking at the theme of living life in fullness, Duncan shared the story of a girl from the streets of Guatemala surviving the violence and poverty to be supported by the charity to attend school and college. This young woman will begin medical training to become a doctor in September 2025. This charity continues to be supported by the students of Altwood School.
Having served, in the past, on the school’s Governing Body I can say, in conclusion, that the community of Altwood School has always been important to me.
The Revd Jeremy Harris, vicar of All Saints Church