Choristers Attend Service of Thanksgiving at Westminster Abbey

Pupils from the School recently joined schools from across the country to take a leading role in a service at Westminster Abbey to mark the birth of the Schools founder.

40 members of the Chapel and Lower School Choir travelled to London to join over 1,000 other staff and pupils from the Woodard family of schools. The service celebrated the 200th anniversary of the birth of educational visionary, The Reverend Canon Nathaniel Woodard (1811 1891), the Church of England priest who founded eleven schools during his lifetime.

The service was also attended by members of the School Council and the Headmaster and his wife, Brendan and Anne Wignall. Brendan commented At Ellesmere College each student is valued as an individual and as a member of society. We very firmly believe that education is much more than just part of the service economy our students who attended the service proved that today. Through their worship and interaction with one another they demonstrated Christian values in action and this is something they will all take home with them from today and remember in the future.

He added, Woodards Christian ethos has much to offer the 21st century setting and the way we care for and educate our children and promote social justice. At its best, education should be about working to change the world for the better, to pursue peace and justice, and to serve all both God and society in a way which is both inclusive of others and empowering for the individual.

Senior Provost of Woodard Schools, Canon Brendan Clover, added, Taking part in this national service  to celebrate the 200th anniversary of Nathaniel Woodards birth was a huge opportunity and honour for everyone involved in our schools, both staff and students. It was a big occasion and one in which everyone present played their part.

Pictures from the top: Group of Lower School pupils
Whole group with Head Master
Head Boy Christian Cieslik
Senior School pupils

8th December 2011  Back to News