St Lawrence Church is next door to the school and both were built on church land in 1865. School and church therefore enjoy very strong links. Several church members are deeply involved in the life of the school. Three regular worshippers are school governors and, in addition, Brian and Mary Sutton help in the garden, with Brian himself also helping with special reading tuition and as clerk to the governors.
Our vicar, Revd Michael Cooke, is of course a Foundation Governor and helps take Assemblies. (He's a research chemist by training, so sometimes does a chemical experiment to illustrate a Christian truth.)
For the last few years, the Church Council has provided a special youth bible to each pupil leaving for secondary school. Week by week a different aspect of school life is prayed for at the church's main Sunday service.
The church building is used by the school for some assemblies, and for major school events (Harvest, Leavers' service, etc), and for occasional classes teaching something about the church or special parts of it.
Once or twice a year there's a special invitation for pupils, parents and staff to join the usual worshippers for the Sunday service.
The school shelter building is used by the church for its Sunday school (held usually on 3rd Sunday of the month). Most recently the church arranged to have built at the end of the shelter a disabled toilet for both church and school use - another example of partnership.
If you would like any further information about the church or services visit www.sealstlawrence.org.uk please contact mcooke7oaks@btopenworld.com |