Bishop blesses new school
05/10/2012
The Bishop of Newcastle, the Rt Revd Martin Wharton, visited the new Junior School and Nursery at Dame Allan's Schools, Newcastle, on the 17th September, two weeks after it opened its doors for boys and girls aged 3 to 11.
The Bishop was met by 10 year old Ria Barber from Gosforth and 10 year old Charlie Newton from Corbridge, who presented him with the official history of the Schools.
Bishop Martin led a blessing service for the older children in the main Hall, accompanied by the Principal of Dame Allan’s, Dr John Hind and Mr Andrew Edge, Head of the Junior School.
He then met the younger boys and girls in the dedicated area for the Early Years, where he saw them enjoying lessons in their classrooms and their own play areas inside and outside, remarking that the slide down the grassy bank looked particularly exciting and admiring the climbing wall.
Bishop Martin said: "Dame Allan's Schools have been serving the City of Newcastle for more than twice as long as there have been Bishops of Newcastle and it's a privilege to be invited to open these wonderful and exciting new buildings and grounds. Nurturing children in mind, body and spirit is a God-given task - Dame Allan's has been blessed and been a blessing to many over three centuries, and I pray today that its work will continue far into the future."
Dr John Hind, Principal of Dame Allan’s, said, “This has been a wonderful way to celebrate the start of the next chapter in the life of the Schools. When the Schools moved to the main site in Fenham in 1935, the then Bishop of Newcastle blessed their endeavours, so I am very grateful to Bishop Martin for continuing this tradition.
“This new school has been carefully designed to provide the best learning environment possible for our pupils and I am looking forward to seeing these children progress. I am confident that their enthusiasm and laughter means that we have successfully implanted our ethos that ‘learning should be fun’!”
www.dameallans.co.uk
View the news archive