CHAPLAIN’S REPORT
A special place at the Preparatory School
If you were to visit what was the
reception area in the Preparatory School
in the past you will discover that it has a
very new purpose. While it remains a place
in which to gather, the purpose of that
gathering is today for prayer, reflection,
and occasionally for worship. The reception
desk has been removed, the room painted
and enclosed more with an altar placed in
the centre, surrounded by a ring of chairs
against the wall.
The space is now called an “Oratory”
which might be defined as a small chapel,
especially for private worship. In the life
of the Preparatory School it also acts as a
special place, a place set aside as a reminder
of the workings of the Divine in our lives,
our work and in the Preparatory School.
At the final Preparatory School Chapel
service of Term 3, held in Priestley Hall,
five very beautiful wooden candle holders
were blessed for use and adornment in our
worship in Priestley Hall and to be housed in
the Oratory. The candle-holders were very
kindly, generously and lovingly made by Mr
Peter Benzie, Assistant Head of the Senior
School.
Speaking at that service in which the
“fruits of his labour” were blessed for the
work of the Church and building up of the
Kingdom of God in the Preparatory School,
Mr Benzie spoke of his delight in being able
to use his gifts and skills in woodwork to
make something very beautiful and thereby
enrich other people’s lives. He encouraged
the students to ensure that they used their
God given gifts as best they could; not only
The space is now called
an “Oratory” which
might be defined as a
small chapel, especially
for private worship.
because that was the correct thing to do,
but because it would give them a great deal
of personal pleasure and satisfaction.
There is no doubt that Mr Benzie’s
handiwork will give a great number of
students delight as they gaze upon his
very fine craftsmanship and the beauty of
the Jarrah timber out of which the candle
holders are made. One group of students
who were particularly excited by these
additions were members of the Preparatory
School Chapel Team, members of which
will have the privilege of carrying the candle
holders during processions in our Chapel
Services which occur weekly in Priestley
Hall. Members of the Chapel Team for 2018
were Mackenzie Knoop-Bender (Chapel
Captain), Year 6 students Jesse Caporn,
Daniel Huynh, Blair Parnell, and Jed Spencer,
along with Year 5 students Thomas Coles,
Zachariah Dechan, Lachlan Eddowes, and
Lauren Ohm. These students make a valued
and valuable contribution to our worship;
assisting also with readings from the Bible
and the saying of prayers.
The making of candle holders is not the
first piece of woodwork Mr Benzie has
undertaken in our Chapel life. I am reminded
of the simple but striking Jarrah cross he
made which forms part of our Advent
Crown.
For the contributions everyone makes to
enhance our prayer life and worship, be it
in the Chapel of St Mary and St George, at
Priestley Hall, or our delightful Oratory, we
give thanks to God.
The Rev’d Canon Dr Philip Raymont
Senior Chaplain
Father Philip’s
Book of Blessings
In October 2018 we proudly released a very
special publication that has been nine years in the
making – Father Philip’s Book of Blessings!
Fore word
Headm as ter
Mr Step h en W ebber
F
This Book of Blessings by our Senior Chaplain,
The Rev’d Canon Dr Philip Raymont, highlights the gift of the ministry
of our Chaplains in the life of Guildford Grammar School.
Ever present, encouraging, supporting and celebrating the varied
facets of the School, our Chaplains help connect the threads that
bind our community together.
We are blessed to have Chaplains who value that their ministry also
lies beyond the Chapel walls. In reading through this book you will get a
sense of the breadth of this involvement and the strength, love and
joy inherent in the words, so wisely conveyed.
For this we give thanks.
Mr Stephen Webber
Headmaster
Guildford Grammar School
3
6
This beautiful book contains a selection of Father
Philip’s blessings since he started at the School
including blessings for staff, blessings of boats,
buses, dinners, camps and much more.
The book was available at the Preparatory School
Admin, Senior School Admin, the Finance Office,
Thwaites Reception and the Clothing Shop for a
donation of choice, with all proceeds donated to
the Anglicare WA Christmas Appeal.
The book was so popular that all copies sold out
within a week and a second print run had to be
arranged! With book sales peaking at the end of
the year, helped along by a book signing in the
Library, the second run of books also sold out!