Chapel

Pastoral and spiritual support

Eastbourne College is a Church of England (Protestant Christian) registered school, and attending Chapel services forms an important part of our routine and our community life. Regardless of religious beliefs, pupils are expected to attend and be respectful in Chapel and to follow the services to the best of their ability. At the beginning and end of every term the whole school gather for the Headmaster’s Assembly and Service held in the nearby All Saints’ Church. This venue can also be used for other purposes throughout the year.

Our chapel provides a calm and spiritual centre of the College. Rooted in the Church of England tradition, the chapel welcomes and nurtures pupils of all faiths and none. The College has a rich choral tradition with an outstanding choir and the relatively small size of the Chapel building means that all services have an intimate feel to them.

Pastoral Care

The College has a full-time chaplain who seeks to provide pastoral and spiritual care to the whole College community 24 hours a day, seven days a week. Sometimes pupils drop in just for a chat and a cup of tea. Additionally, the chaplain visits boarding and day houses regularly to chat with pupils about how they are getting on.

charitable contribution

The chaplain often leads on charitable activities, particularly at harvest festival time. Over the years, strong relationships have been built with local charities such as Eastbourne Foodbank, and the whole community pulls together at this time to donate food, their time, and other essentials to those who need it most.

Services

At the beginning and end of each term there is a whole-school service in All Saints’ Church, immediately adjacent to the school. There are also other regular whole-school services within each term, and all College pupils attend a short weekly service on Mondays or Fridays in the College Chapel. Throughout the year, special services take place in the week and also on Sundays (e.g. Advent Carols, Remembrance Sunday, Ash Wednesday, Christmas Day etc …) and there is opportunity to attend Holy Communion occasionally.

Every year a confirmation service is held in the Chapel, and the chaplain prepares candidates for confirmation in the months preceding this service (including an away day at a local retreat centre). In addition to the many services throughout the year, the school holds a whole school Eucharist annually, at which all confirmed pupils and staff are encouraged to express their faith and lead all in worship.

More routinely, the Chapel is accessible each day during term time as a place of peace, where pupils can have some quiet time away from the busy daily life of College.