Our Chapel
Altwood Chapel:
Our Chapel is located in the centre of the school, yet in a quiet corridor allowing for personal reflection and prayer. The Chapel can be available to staff and students throughout the school day. Part of the RE curriculum ensures that all students visit the chapel and understand its significance to life at Altwood. The Chapel provides a base for our Chaplain Rev Jo who runs our Chapel and Chat group during break and lunch on a Friday.
Rev. Jo is an integral part of the school community. She actively responds to the needs of the students and school community providing opportunities for all. Her work inspires students of Christian faith, other faith and those with no faith. Alongside her work with students, Rev Jo opens up the Chapel to our parent community by running a bi-monthly parent prayer group. Students can engage in outreach work with Rev Jo’s support.
See below for a small flavour of the projects Rev Jo has initiated and supported:
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Students from Chapel and Chat wanted to give back to their community. They decided to use one of their lunch breaks to litter pick within the local community. |
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Students in Year 11 had the opportunity to engage in the Alpha Youth course. This was an opportunity for students to ask and explore big questions and study the bible. Student feedback: ‘It was good to understand how God has made his way into people’s lives and what impact that had on them and their actions.’ ‘Good to have a place to think about what a relationship with God looks like.’ ‘I would like to run it for other people in younger years.’ ‘It was good to understand how God ties in with charity. Good to see examples of charity in the real world.’ |
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Students visit the residence of Larchfield care home during the festive season. They deliver Christmas cards and small gifts made by craft club. They also provide entertainment through excerpts for the Carol Service. |
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The strong relationship we have established with our global charity, Street Kids Direct is due to the existing relationship between St Peter’s Church and All Saints Church, and Duncan Dyason MBE, the founder and director. The annual Rough Sleep is now in its 4th year, an event that is supported by the school and parishioners of the above-mentioned churches. |
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Thanks so much for sharing this incredibly inspiring and encouraging news with me. What a wonderful way to bring churches and school into partnership for the support of those less fortunate than themselves. And it seems like the weather was not that favourable either, making the impact and endurance of the experience all the more real for the young people themselves. Revd Charlie Kerr, Chaplaincy Advisor to The Diocese of Oxford |
Ripon College Retreat Day was a chance for students to explore faith, spirituality and wellbeing from a Christian base, whilst ensuring to observe the 3I’s, inclusive, inspiring and invitational, just like Chapel and Chat. It provided day filled with fun and reflection in a beautiful space.
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Our Chapel and Chat students worked with Rev Jo to write our school blessing, which is shared with students every Friday. |
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