This year marks the centenary of our Chapel. Sitting at the heart of our community, our Chapel’s 100-year anniversary will be marked with an exciting programme of alumnae dinner events taking place in Chapel which will form a memorable backdrop for an evening of celebrating and reminiscing with fellow alumnae and former staff from across the years.
On Friday 24 February we hosted the inaugural Dinner in Chapel and were delighted to be joined by former members of staff and alumnae who left St Helen’s in the 1970s and 1980s, some of whom had not returned to St Helen’s for many years.
The evening began with drinks and canapés in Old School Hall, accompanied by delightful clarinet music played by our own students. After an address by Headmistress Rebecca Dougall the guests were then welcomed into the atmospherically lit and beautifully decorated Chapel and enjoyed catching up with old friends over a delicious three-course meal.
Our guests were delighted with their experience at our first dinner and shared their highlights of the evening with us:
“The whole evening unlocked so many memories and the School’s attention to detail for the event was much appreciated from the outstanding food and student waiters who we enjoyed meeting, to the ‘per severa’ enamel badges at our place settings and the candlelit tables in the Chapel that was at the heart of our school lives.”
“It was a joy. The Chapel looked beautiful. The students were very friendly and confident, including your talented musicians…The staff made us so welcome and the catering team performed magnificently! I was truly awestruck!”
“Our group of four leavers from ’76 all thought it was very special. The food was delicious and the lovely, confident, kind Sixth Form students were such a credit to the School.”
The centenary will also be celebrated with a permanent textiles installation designed by artist Michael Brennand-Wood; the project will incorporate students into the creative process by taking influence from the thoughts and feelings of this special place and what Chapel means to our community.
