Chapel is a weekly event at the School
The Christian faith is woven into the fabric of the School but is most explicitly expressed through three area: Chapel, Christian Development classes and voluntary activities.
The Junior School and Gawura School join together in two, age appropriate Chapel services each week. Years 5 to 6 attend Chapel on Tuesday afternoons, while Kindergarten to Year 4 enjoy Chapel on Wednesday afternoons. All students are expected to attend.
Throughout the year, combined Chapel services mark the beginning of each term and celebrate, Easter, ANZAC Day, and Christmas. Our chapel program also acknowledges significant occasions in the life of the School community, including Reconciliation Week and NAIDOC Week. Whenever possible, we are delighted to welcome parents to join with us for Chapel.
Chapel services provide a communal expression of the School’s Christian foundation and commitment, working hand-in-hand with the Christian Development course.
Chapel gives students an opportunity to explore the relevance of Christian faith to everyday life and to learn about the attitudes and practices of Christians when they gather together. This occurs through talks, testimonies, and interviews. Students also participate by reading the Bible publicly, leading prayers, contributing through music where appropriate and occasionally performing drama skits.
Our gatherings seek to be generous, invitational and hope-filled. Students are expected to be respectful and thoughtful during Chapel, but no one is required to affirm beliefs with which they do not personally agree.
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 from are more than welcome to contact our Chaplain, Reverend Michael Bennett, if they would like to discuss any aspect of Christian ministry in the School.
Junior School Christian ministry
The Christian Development course introduces students to the Christian faith through the study of the Bible. Across the K–6 course, students explore the richness and wisdom of God’s revelation of himself.
Younger students learn about God and his Son, Jesus Christ, through age-appropriate children’s Bibles, songs and activities. As their literacy skills develop, they transition to reading selected passages from the full Bible. Christian Development provides a strong foundation for understanding the overarching story of the Bible: that God so loved the world that 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 participate in thoughtful, open and respectful discussions about faith, life and Christian living.
Chapel and Christian Development lessons are weekly and compulsory activities at the School. In addition, the Chaplaincy team coordinates voluntary Junior CRU groups for students in Kindergarten to Year 4 and Years 5–6. All students are welcome to attend and enjoy games, craft, prayer and Bible activities together.
CRU groups are led by Chaplaincy staff and alumni and are affiliated with CRU, which also offers sport- and activity-based holiday camps for primary school children.
Junior School and Gawura School CRU groups meet on Tuesdays during afternoon tea.
Middle and Senior CRU Groups’ and Christian camps
In addition to weekly Chapel services, the Chaplaincy team coordinates a wide range of voluntary Christian ministries. A number of lunchtime CRU groups provide opportunities for Bible study, prayer, fun and encouragement. These groups are generally organised by year group and gender and are led by members of the Chaplaincy team, Christian staff and senior students.
The Middle School CRU groups meet on Wednesdays at lunchtime. They are led by a student leadership team from Years 11 and 12, with support from staff. The groups are Bible-centred, enjoyable and open to students at every stage of their faith journey.
The Senior College CRU groups meet on Fridays at lunchtime. These staff-led small groups provide students with opportunities to read the Bible and explore more in-depth questions about the Christian faith.
The Chaplaincy team also runs Zedge, an annual weekend camp for students in Years 7–12. This fun, out-of-school experience gives students an opportunity to explore the Christian faith, deepen friendships across the School and be encouraged by St Andrew’s Cathedral School alumni who help lead discussion groups.
Members of the Chaplaincy team are 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 the School newsletter. If you are joining St Andrew’s Cathedral School as a new student in 2027 and would like to become involved in a CRU group, the expression of interest form will be available by the end of Term 4, 2026.
You may be interested in more about out Christian approach