Archbishop rededicates 150 year-old chapel at school

During his visit to St Peter’s School in York yesterday, Dr John Sentamu led a rededication service in the chapel.

At 150 years-old, the chapel is older than many schools.

However it is a relatively new addition in the life of St Peter’s which was first founded by St Paulinus of York in 627AD.

Pupils from St Peter’s, and its sister schools St Olave’s Prep and Clifton Pre-prep School formed a choir for the service yesterday, which also included a performance by the school’s brass group.

The Archbishop had lunch with pupils and staff and toured the campus.

He said: “St Peter’s School has historic links with York Minster and the City of York.

“Its Christian ethos has always provided the motivation for the school’s support in the local community and its partnerships with other local schools.

“The chapel is the spiritual heart of the school, and I am delighted that with this service of rededication we can celebrate the Christian faith lived out in every aspect of life at St Peter’s.”

Leo Winkley, headmaster of St Peter’s School, said: “Archbishop Sentamu is a passionate supporter of education and he relates brilliantly to young people.

“Our year-eight pupils have been following the Archbishop of York’s Youth Trust Leadership Award, and we are exploring other ways of engaging with fellow schools in the diocese, both independent and state, to share our values.

“We want to inspire our pupils to achieve all they can for themselves, as well as giving to others,” he said.

Dr Sentamu met pupils who completed the Young Leaders Award, a leadership programme developed by the Archbishop of York Youth Trust last year.

The award is now being run in 38 schools across the north of England with more than 4,100 young people involved.

The Archbishop is not only involved in education through the award but also has a school in the region named after him. The Archbishop Sentamu Academy opened in Hull in 2008 replacing the Archbishop Thurstan School.