Archbishop's Day

Archbishop's Day

at Christ Church Grammar School

Shortly after Archbishop Kay Goldsworthy was appointed as Archbishop of Perth, her first commissioning service in the Diocese was of our new School Chaplain, The Revd Nicholas Russell.

Since that time, the Archbishop has visited Christ Church on several occasions, and the most significant for the School being the introduction of what we call ‘Archbishop’s Day’.

As an Anglican school that holds to the Christian faith, and finds its origins in the person and teaching of Jesus Christ, the School was keen to secure a day that would strengthen our relationship with the Diocese and educate our students on what it means for us to be a part of the Anglican Church. In 2019, Principal Alan Jones introduced Archbishop's Day at Christ Church.

The first Archbishop’s Day saw the Archbishop meet early before school with Christian leaders, and then address the Preparatory School. She spoke of the importance of peace as a critical Christian value. She then attended a Year 8 class, answering their big questions of life, God, meaning and faith and finished with morning tea with the staff.

This year followed a similar pattern as the Archbishop spoke about leadership to our Year 12 Prefects, conducted a Eucharist service for the Year 12 students, attended a Year 10 class and mingled with the Preparatory School staff over morning tea. The students were very engaged asking many questions to further their understanding of what the Archbishop’s role involves, as well as exploring the bigger questions of life, its purpose and meaning.

‘This is a wonderful opportunity for our school community to spend time with the Archbishop,’ explains School Chaplain, The Revd Nicholas Russell.

‘There were students at Christ Church who, before Archbishop’s Day, had only ever had an interaction with a bishop on a chess board. This is not the case now. The students are very interested to interact with and ask questions of her Grace. Our boys are able to see servant leadership modelled.

Archbishop Kay easily and quickly identifies with the boys and staff, and vice versa, and is able to take a contemporary subject, draw the connection to a Bible story and clearly articulate a direction not obvious to many of us.’

Every visit by the Archbishop consolidates the teachings of the School’s values, based on teachings of the Anglican Church; care and compassion, environmental responsibility, excellence, freedom, honesty and trustworthiness, integrity, respect, responsibility, social justice, understanding and inclusion.

We look forward to her continued ministry amongst us at Christ Church Grammar School.