The Chaplaincy
Our Marlborough community is one of all faiths and none, but we recognise that we are all on a spiritual pilgrimage towards a deeper awareness of who we are and our place in the world. Chapel plays a large role in this personal journey. Services are ‘gently Anglican’ and highlight the very best of that Christian tradition with its emphasis on inclusivity. Significant feasts of the Church are celebrated, such as Ascension Day, Ash Wednesday and Passiontide. The Christmas services of Lessons and Carols are particular favourites.
Every year, Confirmation classes are held in the Lent Term and the Confirmation service itself, officiated by a visiting Bishop from the Diocese of Salisbury, is held in April. Roman Catholic pupils are prepared for Confirmation by Father John Blacker and their service is in May. Many Marlburians become heavily involved in the life of the Chapel in a variety of ways, from being a Chapel Prefect through to singing in the Chapel Choir.
A pivotal feature of the Chapel and the Chaplaincy is to provide a moment and a place of stillness in the hectic life of the school. House Communions are popular occasions and pupils appreciate the sense of peace and unity that they bring.
Our Senior Chaplain, the Reverend Tim Novis, is always available to listen to pupils and staff who have a particular concern. He offers preparation for Baptism and Confirmation, celebrates marriages for staff and Old Marlburians, and delivers Services of Thanksgiving. Reverend Tim works with a number of Visiting Chaplains to ensure a breadth of understanding of world religions and to provide specific religious provision for pupils and staff. The Catholic Chaplain, Father John Blacker, provides regular celebrations of the Mass. Rabbi Chaplain, Jonny Hughes, and Islamic Chaplain, Rashidah Alli, visit multiple times each term for open meetings and to provide individual support in the worship and maintenance of those faiths. Reverend Tim is a tutor in Cotton House and a member of the Board of Governors of Preshute Primary School, and participates widely in the co-curricular life of the school and our community.
Our Chapel of St Michael and All Angels is one of the greatest ecclesiastical buildings of the Victorian age. The first Chapel of 1848 was replaced in 1886 by the architect George Frederick Bodley’s magnificent structure, but this was enriched by some of the remarkable decoration from its predecessor. Our Chapel has one of the most spectacular and sumptuous school interiors to be found anywhere in the world, not least because of the presence of a remarkable series of 12 paintings by the Pre-Raphaelite artist, John Roddam Spencer Stanhope on the Ministration of Angels on Earth, and the beautiful Scholars’ Window by Edward Burne-Jones and William Morris, an Old Marlburian. The story of the ambitious enrichment of the first Chapel and the aspirations of those who set about this work and the creation of the new building is an extraordinary tale which is captured in two wonderful publications which can be viewed here – Architecture and History, Art and Vision.
