Our School > Spiritual Life

St Margaret’s is a living faith community, welcoming many groups from within and without the School. The School Chapel stands as a constant reminder of the Christian faith which is at the core of St Margaret’s.

Throughout the School, the Chaplains are responsible for worship, which is set within the Anglican tradition and in conjunction with the history and the presence of the Sisters of The Society of the Sacred Advent.

The prayer rhythms of the School are established in many ways. The boarding community worship on Thursday mornings and Sunday evenings and are pleased to welcome day girls and visitors to worship with them. Within the school day, there are regular Year Level and House services in the Secondary school. Primary girls (Prep to Year 7) fill the Chapel with much life and light each week. An invitation is extended for all, both Primary and Secondary, to attend Family Year Level services of Holy Communion, currently held in Term 2. Family Services are held on Tuesday evenings in the Secondary School and on consecutive Sundays in the Primary School.

Students play a very active role in all school liturgies, some filling the roles of Sacristans (Year 12) and Chapel Assistants (Year 7). Girls who train as altar servers receive a certificate from “The Sister Sandra School of Servers” to acknowledge their contribution to the spiritual life of the School.

The School Chapel welcomes Old Girls on a variety of occasions, including the annual Old Girls’ Day Eucharist, baptisms and weddings. The Sisters Chapel is also a popular venue for special services.

Religious and Values Education lessons are an integral part of the curriculum throughout the school. Students are encouraged to contribute to informal discussion, question and answer sessions and debates on moral issues. Girls in Years 4 to 7 form a Eucharistic community in the Primary School, whilst Secondary girls have the opportunity to worship through Class Eucharists where the theme of the liturgy itself is generated by the girls in their Religious and Values Education lessons.

There are opportunities for spiritual journeying. The Year 4 curriculum includes a unit which prepares students for Admission to Holy Communion. Girls from Years 4 to 9 who wish to be admitted to Holy Communion take part in a special evening service at the end of Term 2. The pre-requisite for Holy Communion is Baptism and each year, some girls who have not already been baptised, are baptised in the School Chapel.

The Year 10 curriculum features a unit on “Anglicanism”. At the conclusion of this course of study, girls in Years 10, 11 and 12 who wish to be confirmed take part in further preparation during their Religious and Values Education lesson time and take part in a Confirmation retreat at the end of Term 3. The Bishop conducts the Confirmation service on the evening of the first day in Term 4.

St Margaret’s is unique, being the only Anglican School in Queensland with the Sisters living on site. This adds a spiritual dimension to the School which is fostered through interaction with the Sisters in class visits to Community House and time spent in the Sisters Chapel and in walking the labyrinth in the grounds of the Retreat Centre.

The School Chapel houses some striking art work, including magnificent stained glass windows by David Birrell, hand-worked banners by former Headmistress, Evelyn Heath, and an impressive reredos which echoes the colours of the windows and celebrated the women of the Bible. Worked entirely in silk by former teacher, Jane Wilson, it was designed by Father David Binns.