Westminster Abbey Celebrates the 175th Anniversary of the Foundation of Whitelands College

Tuesday, 24th May 2016

Westminster Abbey Celebrates the 175th Anniversary of the Foundation of Whitelands College

A Service to Celebrate the 175th Anniversary of the Foundation of Whitelands College was held at Westminster Abbey at Noon on Tuesday 24th May 2016.

The service was conducted by the Dean of Westminster, the Very Reverend Dr John Hall, who said in his Bidding:

On behalf of the Dean and Chapter of Westminster and in my capacity as a Pro Chancellor and former General Secretary of the National Society, it is a particular pleasure to welcome representatives of the University of Roehampton to our celebration of the foundation of Whitelands College 175 years ago.
We gather to give thanks for those pioneering years when the National Society was establishing school education for all, based on the principles and values of the Church of England, and higher education for women to prepare them for the noble vocation of teaching.
We shall celebrate the achievements of all the Colleges that established in 1975 a single higher education institution, that became twelve years ago the University of Roehampton. And we shall pray for all who govern and direct the University and for all who teach and learn that whatsoever things are true, whatsoever things are honest, whatsoever things are just, whatsoever things are of good report may here flourish and abound.

Siobhan Kelly, President of the Roehampton Students' Union, read Reminiscences of Whitelands College by Eleanor Catermole, and Professor Paul O'Prey, Vice Chancellor, read The Caged Skylark by Gerard Manley Hopkins.

Professor Dame Jacqueline Wilson DBE, Chancellor, read Proverbs 8: 1-11 and Dr Mark Garner, Head of Whitelands College, read Philippians 2: 5-11.

The Reverend Lucy Winkett, Rector of St James's Church Piccadilly, gave the Address.

Prayers were led by the Reverend Paul Arbuthnot, Minor Canon and Sacrist, and said by: The Reverend Dr Daniel Eshum, Chaplain of Whitelands College; Wiktor Madejczyk, Chaplain of Digby Stuart College; The Reverend David Innes, Chaplain of Southlands College; Ginny Jordan-Arthur, Chaplain of Digby Stuart College; Ella Sibley, Assistant Chaplain of Southlands College; Gillian Morris, Chief Executive, The Froebel Trust; and the Reverend Professor Vernon White, Canon in Residence.

The service was sung by the Westminster Abbey Special Service Choir, conducted by James O'Donnell, Organist and Master of the Choristers. The organ was played by Daniel Cook, Sub-Organist, and before the service by Matthew Jorysz, Assistant Organist.

Order of Service

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Special Service | Whitelands College | University of Roehampton
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