Pupils of different faiths played their part in the annual commemoration day service for Queen Elizabeth's Girls' School at Barnet Parish Church.
To celebrate and enhance the religious diversity of the school, pupils from five other faiths – Buddhist, Hindu, Jewish, Muslim and Sikh – made an affirmation of their beliefs at the opening of the service.
QE Girls has been a non-denominational school since it was founded in 1888 but has always held traditional events such as the commemoration day and Christmas carol services in the Church of England parish church of St John the Baptist.
“As this is the 135th anniversary year of the school, we were determined to find an imaginative way to celebrate the school’s great diversity of religious beliefs,” said Headteacher Mrs Violet Walker.
After the opening hymn, the five pupils (see above) each made their affirmation – Anuki Gamage (Buddhist, year 7), Mahek Depala (Hindu, year 9), Georgie Grunwald (Jewish, year 7), Armit Adabi Cemeskandeh (Muslim, year 10) and Jenna Mann (Sikh, year 7).
Father Sam Rossiter-Peters, vicar at St John’s, welcomed what he said was an innovative and inclusive way for the school to recognise and honour the various faiths of the pupils.
Incorporating the affirmations into the service had required some delicate negotiations with the Church of England authorities.
“According to canon law there are rules about what can be included in a Church of England service and what can happen in the building itself.
“So once QE Girls suggested this as a way of celebrating the breadth of diversity at the school, we had discussions with the Archdeacon, and we immediately obtained the approval we needed.”
He thanked the pupils for sharing their affirmations and prayers.
Guest of honour at the service, the Mayor of Barnet Councillor Nagus Narenthira, hailed QE Girls’ initiative as an excellent example of a multi-faith approach.
“This is a real innovation and a really inclusive way to welcome other religious views at a Church of England service.”
Mrs Walker (centre) led the procession of staff and pupils along Barnet High Street from QE Girls to the parish church.
In his address, Father Sam said it was a privilege to see St John’s packed with pupils who he was confident would become some of the “most able, best educated, and most prepared women” ready to face the challenges that the world would present them.
“You will decide how the world will look in the future…the world will be made by the people in this room.”
During the service, Mrs Walker read the act of commemoration that had been delivered by her predecessor as headteacher in 1923.
Highlights of the service included a piano solo by Keira Wang (year 9), violin solo by Alicia Cheung (year 8), and vocal solos by Sophia Freegard and Daisy Ogle (year 13) and a reading by head girl Saoirse Pira.
Ms Penelope Martin-Smith of QEGS Alumni, was the guest vocal soloist. She was a contemporary of Violet Walker and they were both in the same class at QE Girls.
Ms Martin-Smith said her paternal grandmother Beatrice Bull was one of the earliest head girls.
