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.
Sometimes pupils drop in just for a chat and a cup of tea
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 regular whole-school services. All College pupils attend a short weekly service on Mondays or Wednesdays, and boarders attend a Sunday service during community weekends.
In addition, Holy Communion is taken into boarding houses on rotation on Wednesday evenings.
The Chapel is accessible each day during term time as a place of peace, where pupils can have some quiet time away from busy daily College life. Sunday services often reflect the College’s outstanding choral tradition. In addition, there are occasional services which are led by one of the houses.
Every year a confirmation service is held in the Chapel. The chaplain prepares candidates for confirmation in the months preceding this service which includes an away day at Ashburnham Christian Centre.
