ABOVE: During a Service BELOW: St Mary Abbots School and Sunday School
St Mary Abbots School was first endowed by Roger Primble, who in 1645, left two houses in High Street Kensington ‘for the maintenance of a free school for poor-men’s children in the same town to be taught’. In 1707, the Church increased its endowment so that 30 boys and 30 girls could be clothed and taught. Queen Anne also gave £50 per year to be used for the children and her husband, Prince George, donated £50 per annum for the schoolmaster’s salary.
The
school now enjoys a secluded position beside the churchyard, well away
from the noise and bustle of the High Street. It is a Voluntary Aided Church
of England Primary School for children who ages range between 4 and 11
years. The School’s intake reflects the cosmopolitan nature of Kensington
and it is fortunate to have a harmonious mix of children from many countries.
respect and tolerance for each other are encouraged in order to develop
a greater understanding of the multicultural-world in which we live. Over
a third of the children are second or third language learners and there
are between 20 and 25 languages, and many more countries represented.
There is a close connection with the Parish Church, which the older children attend each Thursday for the School’s Eucharist Service. This is led by each class in turn, and is open to the public. All the children meet in a daily assembly for worship and Religious Education is a vital part of the curriculum. Children are taught about the principal characters and themes of the Old Testament and their relationship with the coming of Christ; they learn about the birth, death and resurrection of Jesus Christ as revealed by the Holy Spirit in the Bible and professed in the Creeds. The School acknowledges Christ’s living presence in the Church and the World.
In
the vitally important task of preparing these young people for their lives
ahead as citizens of the Third Millennium the declared aim of the School
Governors and Staff is ‘To encourage and help every child to develop in
skills and knowledge, in confidence and personal responsibility with respect
for others, to reveal Christian teaching and worship within a happy, caring
and secure environment, providing a sound basis for their further educational
education and growth.’
The children of St Mary Abbots Church are encouraged to attend the Parish Eucharist on Sunday mornings. While grown-ups listen to Bible readings and the sermon in church, the children retire learn the outline of the Christian faith and respond in livelier, noisier and messier - but more creative ways - than would be possible in Church! St Mary Abbots aims to give children an experience of the Church as a happy place to be where they can experience, as a reality, the gospel of love shown to us in the life and teaching of our Lord Jesus Christ. At the time of the communion, back in the church, each child receives a personal blessing and is given a candle to light by the sculpture of the Holy Family; it is a reminder of the baptismal injunction to shine as a light in the world.
The
Millennium is a reminder to all of us of the privilege we share as the
trustees of this fine Church and School and of our duty to ensure it is
maintained, developed and passed on to the children of the Third Millennium.
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