Faith in Action:
St Mark’s Anglican Community School
The Revd Peter Laurence OAM CEO, AngliSchools
Lent is a season of reflection, preparation, and renewal. It calls us to pause and consider how we live out our faith each day, not just in words but in action.
Across Anglican schools, this season is marked by meaningful traditions, from Ash Wednesday liturgies to student-led initiatives. As we journey through these 40 days, we are reminded that Lent is not so much about ‘giving things up’ as deepening our faith in Jesus Christ through prayer and worship, service and daily practice.
St Mark’s Anglican Community School’s commitment to faith in action has been central since its founding in 1986. As the first AngliSchool, St Mark’s helped shape the vision of high-quality, inclusive, accessible, faith-based education that continues to define AngliSchools today. Through its strong Anglican Identity, the School inspires students to live out the ways of Lent year-round — not just for a season, but as a way of life.
Leading the Anglican Way
The establishment of St Mark’s was a significant step in providing access to affordable Anglican education. The Most Revd Dr Peter Carnley AC, then Archbishop of Perth, championed the School’s creation, overcoming many challenges to secure a future for generations of students.
From its beginning, St Mark’s was founded on Anglican beliefs, values and practices. Weekly Chapel services, Religious Studies classes, and Bible Study groups continue to encourage spiritual growth among students, staff and families. The school community champions diversity and inclusion, welcoming students of all faiths and none, while maintaining a strong Anglican Identity.
Honouring its Founders
The four school Houses - Carnley, Challen, Moyes, and Watkins are named in honour of the leaders who shaped St Mark’s. Each House reflects a piece of the School’s history, representing the dedication of Archbishop Peter Carnley, Bishop Michael Challen, Mr Peter Moyes and Mr Glynn Watkins in making quality Anglican schooling accessible to a wide cross-section of the community.
The Next 40 Years
From its humble beginnings in 1986 with 240 students in Pre-Primary, Years One to Three and Year Eight, the St Mark’s school community now includes more than 1,900 students and 250 staff.
As St Mark’s approaches its 40th anniversary next year, it has recently started a new project that will see the development of a state-of-the-art Sports Centre; to include a double court, modern changerooms, and an indoor high ropes course. This facility will also serve as a gathering space, enabling the whole school community to gather on campus. These capital works are more than buildings. They represent the beginning of a new era that will well-position St Mark’s for the next four decades and beyond.
For almost 40 years, St Mark’s has lived its motto – Seek Truth and Wisdom. As St Mark’s Anglican Community School continues to grow, it is staying true to its heritage while looking to the future with optimism, ambition and innovation, and that is exactly what we do at AngliSchools!
Lenten blessings to all in our schools, parishes and across the Anglican community.