Chapel is a weekly event at the School
Christian faith is woven into the fabric of the School but is most explicitly articulated in three spheres: Chapel, Christian Development classes and voluntary activities.
The Junior School and Gawura join together in two, age appropriate Chapel services each week. Years 4 to 6 meet for Chapel on Tuesday afternoon and Kindergarten to Year 3 enjoy Chapel on Wednesday afternoon. All students are expected to attend. During the year, combined Chapel services celebrate the start of each term, Easter, ANZAC Day, and Carols. We also acknowledge significant events in our School community through our Chapel programme, for example, Reconciliation Week and NAIDOC. When we are able to do so, we are delighted to have parents join with us for Chapel.
Chapel services provide a communal expression of the School’s Christian basis and commitment and go hand-in-hand with the Christian Development course.
Chapel gives students an opportunity to explore the relevance of Christian faith in everyday life. We learn the attitudes and practices of Christian people when they gather together. This is done by way of talks, testimonies, and interviews. Students participate in the public reading of the Bible, leading in prayer, serving through music (where appropriate) and occasional drama skits. Our gatherings seek to be generous, invitational and hope filled. Students are expected to be respectful and thoughtful in Chapel, but no one is required to assent to beliefs that they do not personally agree with.
‘CRU groups’ and Christian camps
In addition to weekly Chapel services, the Chaplaincy team coordinates a wide range of voluntary Christian ministries. There are a number of lunchtime groups for Bible study, prayer, fun and encouragement; these groups are affiliated with the CRU organisation and are generally structured around Year and gender. These groups are led by the Chaplaincy team, Christian staff and Senior students.
The Chaplaincy team members are available to meet with students at any time for prayer, support, pastoral counselling and encouragement. Also, regular prayer meetings involving parents and the wider School community are advertised in the School newsletter.
If you are entering St Andrew’s Cathedral School in 2024 as a new student and interested in getting involved in CRU Groups, please complete this expression of interest form.
The Chaplaincy team also runs an annual camp called Zedge camp for students across Years 7-12. This provides a fun, out-of-school experience where students can explore Christian faith, deepen friendships and be encouraged by St Andrew’s Cathedral School Alumni who help lead discussion groups. In addition, the Chaplaincy team is available to meet with students at any time for prayer, support, pastoral counselling and encouragement. Regular prayer meetings involving parents and the wider School community are advertised in School newsletters.
Junior School Christian ministry
The Christian Development course aims to introduce students to the Christian faith. The Bible is the text that is studied through the K-6 Christian Development course giving students an understanding of the riches and wisdom of God’s revelation about himself. Younger students enjoy learning about God, and his son, Jesus Christ, from appropriate children’s Bibles, songs and activities. As students develop in their literacy skills, they transition to reading selected texts from the full Bible. Christian Development provides a solid foundation to understand the over-arching story of the Bible: that God so loved the world, he gave his only Son, so that whoever believes in him will not perish, but have eternal life (John 3:16). Students are encouraged to ask questions and engage in thoughtful, healthy and respectful discussion on matters of faith, life and Christian living.
Chapel and Christian Development lessons are weekly, compulsory activities of the School. In addition, the chaplaincy team also coordinates lunch time CRU groups for each stage: Comet for K-2, Impact for Years 3 and 4 and Bible Blast Years 5 and 6. All students are welcome to attend and enjoy the games, craft, prayer and Bible time together. CRU groups are staffed by Chaplaincy staff and Alumni and are affiliated with the CRU organisation which also hold sport and activity-related holiday camps for children in primary school, if parents are interested.
The Chaplaincy team are also available to meet with students at any time for prayer, pastoral support and encouragement, as they work closely with classroom teachers and the Wellbeing Coordinator. Parents are more than welcome to contact our Assistant Chaplain (Junior School and Gawura), Reverend Emma Newling, or our Senior Chaplain, Reverend Craig Tubman, if they would like to discuss any aspect of Christian ministry in the School.
The Junior School and Gawura CRU groups meet on Fridays during the relevant stage lunch times.
Middle School and Senior College Christian ministry
The Middle School groups meet on Wednesdays at lunchtime. These are led by a student leadership team (Year 11 and 12) with staff support. They are Biblically centred, fun and open to students at any stage of their faith journey.
The Senior College groups meet on Fridays at lunchtime. These are staff led small groups which allow space for reading the Bible and asking more in-depth questions about Christian faith.
You may be interested in more about out Christian approach