St Edmund's

Yesterday, the St. Edmund’s community gathered at Canterbury Cathedral to celebrate St. Edmund’s Day, an occasion to reflect on our history, values, and the legacy of our patron saint.

The service opened with a warm welcome from Reverend Canon Tim Naish, Vice Dean and School Governor, followed by the Chapel Choir’s beautiful introit, Fungar Vice Cotis, written by former pupil James Futcher. The processional hymn, Jerusalem, set the tone for a reflective and inspiring service.

Throughout the service, pupils took part in readings and reflections, with Jago Hendy, a Junior School pupil, reading Psalm 100. The service also featured a unique historical journey through the past 275 years of St. Edmund’s School, with eight voices reading excerpts from key moments in our school’s history. From the foundation of the Clergy Orphan Society in 1749 to the school’s evolution into an independent institution in 1996, these readings captured the spirit and resilience of our school community.

Freddy Kempf delivered a stunning piano solo, Moment Musical No.6 – Op16 by Sergei Rachmaninoff, which was introduced by Ian Swatman, followed by a reading of Colossians 3:12-17 by Olivia Johnson, our School Captain. The words of this passage resonated deeply with the themes of compassion, unity, and love that underpin our values.

In her address, Right Reverend Rose Hudson-Wilkin, Bishop of Dover, encouraged us all to live out our faith with courage and conviction. The service concluded with intercessions led by pupils from both Senior and Junior School and a powerful rendition of Shine Jesus Shine by the choir and brass ensemble, providing a moment of collective reflection and celebration.

It was a moving and meaningful occasion, a time to honor our school’s heritage and look ahead to the future.