Chaplaincy
Samantha Stayte
Lay Chaplain
At the heart of the Headington ethos is the belief that each one of us is a valued member of our community and each one of us brings our particular gifts to be shared and celebrated in our common daily life. As we are a Church of England foundation, this ethos is deeply rooted in Jesus’ command to us to love one another and Paul’s reflections of a community being made up of diverse members working together, members of one body. As an international community we are constantly learning from one another about love and neighbourliness.
The Lay Chaplain, Miss Samantha Stayte, is a full time member of staff who also teaches RS at both Senior and Preparatory Schools. She has a cosy office with an open door and is available as someone to listen when that might be needed. Each year she offers preparation for Confirmation prior to a service held at school.
There is an assembly every morning and each week we focus on a new theme. We aim to cover a variety of themes through the year and to give a range of experiences, such as listening to the spoken word, thinking about challenging images, singing and responding to music and reflecting in silence. Throughout the year each form has the opportunity to prepare and lead an assembly and other groups often volunteer to share their thoughts about things that matter to them. Miss Stayte also leads assemblies on a regular basis at the Preparatory School.
Christmas and the end of the school year are marked with more formal worship. The Carol Service is held at Christchurch Cathedral and Foundation Day is an opportunity for the Preparatory School and the Senior School to come together to give thanks for all that has been achieved in the academic year.
Every Sunday throughout the term, the whole boarding community gathers to celebrate (with exuberance) the life we share together. There is also a flourishing Christian Union in school, with groups for junior and senior students.
On the top floor of the main school building there is a small Chapel, a room set aside as a place for reflection and prayer, a sanctuary in the busy lives we all lead. The specially commissioned window reminds us of T.S. Eliot’s words:
At the still point of the turning world…there the dance is…
Except for the point, the still point
There would be no dance.
The school’s founders chose “Fight the good fight of faith” as the school’s motto. We pray that Headington will be place where in every generation we discover anew our own response to that call.