St Mary's School Calne
Celebrating 135 Years of St Mary’s (1873-2008)
On Saturday 8th March 2008, the whole School community, past and present, gathered in the awe-inspiring venue of Salisbury Cathedral, to celebrate the foundation of St Mary’s School. This was an historic occasion, a fitting tribute to a remarkable School and its past, and a celebration commensurate with St Mary’s exuberant present. The eight hundred strong congregation including pupils, parents, teachers, Governors and Old Girls of St Mary’s, was led by one of the Church’s leading female clergy, The Very Reverend June Osborne, Dean of Salisbury Cathedral and by St Mary’s School Chaplain, The Reverend Peter Giles. The unique tone of the day was set by the Chamber Choir’s stunning performance of Sanctus and Benedictus, from the specially commissioned 135th Anniversary choral work, Requiem, composed and played by the organist, David Bednall. Conducted by St Mary’s Director of Music, Mr Edward Whiting, the Chamber Choir also performed Recordare, Jesu Pie from Verdi’s Requiem, fittingly composed in 1873.
Complementing the breath-taking music, were readings of letters and writings from the School’s history, the Bible, and religious poetry which culminated in Corinthians, Chapter 13, read by Dr Helen Wright. The readers ranged from three MIV Form pupils, Matilda Ellis, Olivia Gosling and Georgina Terry and the Head Girls Team, Sophia Hungerford, Sophie Kuropatwa and Rose Vandeleur to the distinguished guests, Miss Sue Ross, Chairman of the OGA and Mrs Victoria Wilson, Chairman of the Foundation Committee, Governor, and one of three generations of St Mary’s Old Girls.
The congregation was in fine form, giving a wonderful rendering of St Mary’s best-loved school hymns, including Finlandia. A special choir of parents and teachers joined forces with the Chamber Choir to perform the triumphant anthems, Parry’s I Was Glad and Handel’s Hallelujah Chorus and the LIV and MIV Form Choirs gave an accomplished performance of Mozart’s Ave Verum Corpus, one of the most moving pieces of choral music.
In her powerful address, the Dean referred to the important historical and ecclesiastical links between Salisbury and Calne. She explored the necessity of celebrating the past and observing tradition, while engaging in imaginative and risk-taking change to ensure the future. It was fitting that the congregation should include St Mary’s eldest Old Girl, Miss Gladys Beale, who is one hundred years old. Miss Gwen Kirby and Miss Kay Stedmond (author of A History of St Mary’s) were remembered in prayers and tribute was paid to great headmistresses such as Miss Marcia Matthews and Miss Elizabeth Gibbins. This was a Service of Thanksgiving which will long be remembered for both its beauty and its gravitas. It gave a real sense of pride in the School and provided an opportunity for everyone to reflect upon and rejoice in everything that is great about St Mary’s.
