Clowning at Candlemas

Date: Saturday 31 January 2009

On Friday a new initiative, of having a larger scale Festival Eucharist once a term, came to fruition. In place of periods 3/4, the School gathered together to sing lustily, listen to the choir in fine form and hear from our guest speaker - Anglican priest and clown, Roly Bain - Holy Fool, who has taken his mixture of awe, wonder, clowning and fun all over the world, bringing the Christian message to the young of all ages in school, prison, hospitals and the like.

The service began with the presentation of a cheque for over £1,800 to the Thai Children's Trust (formerly the Pattaya Orphanage Trust) - the result of the retiring collection at last term's Cathedral Carol Service. The procession then entered to the rousing tune of Cwm Rhondda (Guide me O Thou great redeemer) only for the tittering to begin, as the Headmaster was virged into chapel, not by a silver wand, but by a clown with a tickling stick. This was the same stick that conducted the hymns alongside the Director of Music and temporarily became a recorder and then a trombone, rendering some pupils entrely incapable of keeping in the giggles.

The sermon was based around the Christmas Story, with the balancing of a mug of water on the end of a broomstick, whilst standing on a plank of wood balanced precariously on top of a log. We were treated to juggling, diabolo and slapstick humour, which came to an abrupt halt as Roly led the intercessions by blowing bubbles - representing prayers being sent to God and which, as each bubble burst, were heard. A poignant moment of quiet contemplation and reflection in an otherwise hilarious presentation.

The service concluded with a shortened Eucharist and we all left the chapel feeling uplifted, refreshed and ready for the day ahead.

Our thanks go to the Chaplain for organising such a memorable Senior School service.