Robert Prance - Licensed!

Date: Wednesday 2 September 2009

Twelve months ago to the day, we, as a School, had welcomed Stephen Venner, as Bishop of Dover, to license Ian Terry as our new School Chaplain, A year on, and Bishop Stephen was back to repeat the process for Robert Prance, ex-Chaplain of both Sherborne and Shiplake College, and now, licensed to serve as Chaplain to St Edmund's School.

The service was familiar, and was enhanced by the first performance of the 2009 Chapel Choir under its new director, William Bersey, who, after just a brief pre-service rehearsal, gave a beautiful rendition of the Mozart anthem, 'Ave Verum'. This augurs well for regular, choir-led, Chapel services throughout the term.

The Headmaster opened the service by welcoming the Bishop, and some lusty congregational singing of two well-known hymns surrounded the formal proceedings of the licensing, and the, as always, well-crafted and very listenable address from the Right Reverend, which reinforced the need for the shepherd to know and to love every member of his flock.

Robert Prance was welcomed on behalf of the staff and pupil bodies by Deputy-Headmaster, David Knight, and the new School Captain, Natasha Hopper. As we wish Ian Terry every good fortune as he returns to parish life in Bournemouth, so we all wish Robert Prance the happiest of times at St Edmund's, and a time of spiritual fulfilment for the whole of the School family, near and far.