The School Chapel is a quiet place in the School: it is a place of prayer and reflection for all members of the school community. The Chapel proclaims a message that God is present among his people; that Jesus is alive and is ready to answer prayer; that the Holy Spirit calls us to love and understanding with each other. The Chapel welcomes those from all beliefs, and none. The Chapel recognises and respects the individuality of all who worship here and seeks to reflect the unconditional invitation to life and faith seen in the person of Jesus of Nazareth.
Welcome to the school chapel today. Our final Sunday eucharist of the school year is the second Sunday in Advent. A special thanks for all who have served and read during the year. Your willing offer to help is greatly appreciated. There is morning tea after today’s service. Please stay!
Please remember -
we talk to God before the service;
we listen to God during the service;
we talk to each other after the service
I see the mission of the school as being to proclaim the good news of the Kingdom, to teach, baptise and nurture new believers, and to respond to human need by loving service; to welcome all who come from whatever religious background - or none. To be non-judgemental - to be catholic and inclusive. The Chapel sets the eucharist at the heart of its worship and proclaims that in broken bread and shared wine we seek to reflect the self-giving love of Christ.
Rev. Roy Gilbert
Chapel of St. Mary and St. George
THE CHAPEL
View our historic chapel first hand with this virtual tour. You will need to download the IPIX plugin. Click this link to download the IPIX plugin http://www.ipix.com/download/ie_activex_dl.html
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As the chapel physically dominates the School, so the regular round of prayer and worship helps to dominate its spiritual and social life. From the chapel emanates the raison d’etre for the School’s existence.
The building itself was designed by Mr Walter Tapper, later Sir Walter, a prominent English architect. He did so on purely Gothic principles, reverting thereby to the features of collegiate chapels of medieval times. The nave is 25 metres long and 9 metres wide, while the crown of the vault stands 16 metres above the floor of the nave. The seats in the nave are arranged in the traditional collegiate manner, the stalls facing each other. Above the stalls runs a ‘monk’s walk’, often called the ‘monkey’s walk’ by the boys! In medieval times the monks used to descend from their living quarters to their place of worship by means of such passageways.
The Chapel was consecrated on March 25th, 1914. This date is celebrated annually as ‘Lady Day’ when the School community remembers its Founders and the significance of the day in its history. It is a custom to induct new members of Council and Prefects at the service held to mark the occasion.
The stone used in the building is a sandstone from Donnybrook in the south of Western Australia. The floor is of marble from Italy and Belgium, while the woodwork is hand-carved oak worked by English craftsmen, specially brought out to Western Australia. The chapel itself stands 21 metres in height and boasts a reredos unequalled in beauty in Australia. With its blaze of blue and gold, it is one of the most striking features of the chapel. The main framework is of wood, heavily carved, gilded and painted. The panels, representing the lives of our Lord, our Lady and St. George, are painted in tempera, a mixture of yolks of eggs and other materials on a background of wood.
Guildford is an Anglican School, which accepts students from all religious backgrounds, and all students are required to attend chapel. Services that are challenging, dramatic, innovative or traditional all have their place. A very high standard of music is maintained, and the School Choir has a tradition that makes it one of the best known in Western Australia.
The Chaplain arranges the Chapel services and religious instruction, and is available as the spiritual counsellor for all members of the School community. Boys in Years 8 to 10 receive regular instruction in the Bible and its relevance to current life. Specific Anglican teaching or doctrine is given to candidates for admission to Communion and to Confirmation candidates.
At the Preparatory School children in all years receive regular instruction in Christian Education. This involves a wide range of topics, including studies of the Bible, church and community, discipleship, relationships, personal development and current issues. Children are prepared for Baptism and Admittance to Holy Communion. The virtues programme also forms the basis of the Chapel Services.
Services
K-3 and Yr 4-7 classes have Chapel an alternate weeks to Holy Communion. The Chaplain takes fortnightly Holy Communion services at the Preparatory School. All boys at the Senior School attend chapel once a week, and also Congregational Singing Practice once a week. In addition boarders attend the Weekend Service. Holy Communion is held each weekday at 7.30 am and as listed in the School calendar.
Visitors are most welcome to attend Sunday and weekday Holy Communion Services, and also the various Carol Services at Easter, Trinity and Advent. Regular collections are taken to forward the work of the Church and to support charitable bodies at the discretion of the Headmaster and the Chaplain.
Each semester a special Preparatory School Service is held in the School Chapel for pupils, parents and friends.