KINGSWOOD CHAPEL AND ITS GARDENS - AN OASIS OF CALM AND INSPIRATION

REV.

KATY THOMAS (2021 – PRESENT, KINGSWOOD CHAPLAIN)

Iam thrilled to welcome you all to this month’s edition of the 275 Newsletter where we discover more about the Kingswood Chapel and its current Gardens dating back to the 1950s.

Kingswood School grounds are so beautiful but never more so than in Spring and Summer. It is such a joy to walk down to Chapel from my office each morning and upon leaving, to pause and look out through the Chapel doors to the lawn and trees beyond. There is evidence that spending time in nature is good for us and we are blessed by stunning scenery that invites us to take a moment in the middle of a busy school day and be restored by the beauty around us.

I recently attended a presentation in the Chapel by Year 9 on food poverty and sustainability and was very impressed with their passion and ideas to reduce food waste. One group suggested having an allotment to grow our own vegetables. I don’t think that idea will go ahead but as we shall see in this issue, it is not a new idea. The Chapel gardens were once either orchards or vegetable patches, planted and looked after by pupils.

The Chapel building itself has changed little since it was built in 1922. It remains an oasis of calm and inspiration in the day and the place of reflection and singing in the morning. Chapel themes often focus on service, using our voice to challenge injustice, being kind and caring for one another. Students continue to amaze me with their charity fundraising, volunteering, and engagement with the wider community. One such initiative involves hosting afternoon teas for local residents and it has been a joy to see our pupils rise to that challenge with kindness and warmth, attentiveness and courtesy.

Wesley believed that true faith should be evident in a person’s actions and deeds, particularly in their commitment to helping others, engaging in acts of service as a means of expressing their love for others. Wesley’s teachings emphasised the importance of actively working towards the betterment of society.

Let me take this opportunity to wish you all a wonderful Summer and may you delight in the wonders of nature, immerse yourself in vibrant blossoms—indulge in the sheer bliss of a tranquil garden sanctuary.

Rev. Katy Thomas