St Richard’s Church and School were built side by side in the 1960s with the view that we would always work closely together. And we certainly do!  The children come in for collective worship every week, and four times a year families are invited to join us to mark special occasions (Harvest, Christmas, Easter, End of year).  The church also supports the school in various ways, from appointing governors to contributing to the school food store.  Once a year we aim to celebrate our partnership together with an Education Sunday service.  But there’s no expectation that those attending the school should be churchgoers, and no pressure on anyone to become Christians.  I believe that God loves everyone and Jesus welcomes everyone, and that’s at the heart of our relationship.  As our vision statement says, “Our school is completely inclusive and distinctively Christian.”

I have been vicar of St Richard’s Church since 2018, and a school governor since then, too.  But before that I had already been a church school governor for 23 years at two other schools!  Being a governor these days is a big responsibility but it is also an amazing opportunity to make a positive difference for the school and the children.  I also come in once a week to act as a chaplain to the staff, sitting chatting to whoever is in the staff room.  I love leading collective worship every Monday morning, and being something like a 9 year old boy at heart, I show Lego pictures and film clips, and have even got Mrs Murphy to hold some dinosaur poo!  In my spare time I love reading and writing about the Vikings, and it’s been great to have the chance to share my enthusiasm about them with children from St Richard’s and other schools in the local area.