My name is Ruth, and I have had the privilege of serving as Chaplain at St Mary’s Anglican Girls’ School in Perth, Western Australia, for the past year. Moving from the United Kingdom, this first year has been a whirlwind – learning, adapting and embracing the unique culture and charms of the ‘St Mary’s way’.
When I was studying at theological college in Durham, my friends and I started a list of ‘things they don’t teach you at theological college’. The list grew during curacy, with gems such as: Where do you find a replacement church key the size of an A4 sheet of paper and weighing nearly 2kg? Or, What do you do when it snows on Christmas Eve and the only way to church is on the back of a tractor? My personal favourite was from a friend who discovered the church organ pump had broken on a Sunday morning – he filmed himself cheerfully hand-pumping it while singing Guide Me, O Thou Great Redeemer!
Since arriving in Australia, I’ve been adding my own entries to the list. I hadn’t quite realised just how different each school can be, each with its own traditions and expectations. For example, in the UK, prize giving was something a chaplain wouldn’t typically be involved in. At St Mary’s, Speech Night is a huge event, and the chaplain plays a key role! And then there’s Valedictory – an unfamiliar concept to me at first, but one I’ve learned to navigate along the way.
One of the greatest joys of moving to Australia – aside from the weather – has been the depth and breadth of school chaplaincy. In the UK, my experience was that chaplains often balanced teaching, boarding responsibilities and occasional assemblies or chapel services. Here, I’m fortunate to focus entirely on chaplaincy, leading at least five chapel services each week – an incredible opportunity to share the message of God with hundreds of students and staff. Beyond chapel, I have loved getting involved in other aspects of school life: Year 3 Beach School, Outdoor Learning programs at Margaret River, interhouse sports carnivals and even early-morning surfing with students.
One of my favourite chapel series this year in the Senior School explored the songs of Taylor Swift and what they can teach us about God. Bringing contemporary culture into chapel and encouraging students to think critically about the world they are growing up in – and what God has to say about it – is a real passion of mine. I am excited to continue this approach in April, when we will examine the lyrics of classic hymns like Shine, Jesus, Shine and Hark! The Herald Angels Sing. I cannot wait to hear what our Years 7 to 11 students have to say about them!
As we step into this new year, whatever our context or the age group we minister to, I pray that we all find space to hear the still, small voice of God encouraging us in our work, ministry and lives. And on the tough days, may we always remember we are His beloved, in whom He is well pleased.
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