Chronicle Summer 2024

25 ST EDWARD’S CHRONICLE

Liz Boughton You joined us as Interim Chaplain in September 2023 and we’re delighted that you’ve now agreed to stay on as our permanent Chaplain. What do you enjoy about working at St Edward’s? So many things! The brilliant pupils, staff and teachers who make up the community. The “have a go” attitude and breadth of opportunities which encourages pupils to do new things. The emphasis on kindness and acceptance of other people. And the opportunity as Chaplain to be alongside people, to hear their stories and to remind them how much God loves them - what a privilege. The food is legendary too! Tell us about your career so far. I was ordained in 1994, not long after the Church of England's General Synod took the decision to allow women's ordination. Since then I have had a range of jobs including chaplaincy at St Catherine’s School Bramley, working in the Ministry Department of Guildford Diocese training pastoral assistants and working with curates. Most recently I have worked in discernment for the National Church running the conferences to advise bishops about which candidates might train for ordained ministry. I was also National Adviser for Young Vocations devising a strategy to grow the number of people under 30 offering for ordained ministry. As part of that work I initiated the Ministry Experience Scheme allowing young people to have hands-on experience of what being a vicar might be like with the aim of building a Chapel is the place where the Christian ethos and foundation of the School can be expressed through our worship and pupils can hear the message of God’s love. It helps us to draw together as a community, to ponder our values and the big questions in life. In a busy round of lessons, sport, drama and much more, the younger and more diverse church leadership. What role does Chapel play in school life?

Chapel can be a little oasis of peace and our side chapel allows members of the Teddies community to stop, light a candle or write a prayer and to express their hopes and concerns to God. Is Chapel for everyone, regardless of their faith? How does the School cater to those of any faith or none? Yes! Everyone is welcome in Chapel and those of any faith or none can benefit from the time and space to reflect. The School aims to make pupils of all faiths welcome, for example the catering team do a wonderful job providing meals during Ramadan so that Muslim pupils can observe their fast. A new interfaith society is just starting up, led by a diverse group of chapel reps, where anyone can come and discuss big ideas, bringing their own insights from their faith or tradition. Tell us about a Bible verse that you find particularly inspiring. I love John 10:10 where Jesus, having said that he is like a good shepherd, says: “I have come that they may have life and have it to the full.” I think a lot of people think that Christian faith is boring, irrelevant or rule-bound. I want everyone to know that Jesus came to live and die and rise again so that we can have the best possible life – the one God created us for. Which three words would you use to summarise the ethos of the School? Supportive, diverse, enriching and stretching. I know that’s four words but we always seem to pack in more than appeared possible. Do you have a favourite place in Oxford? I love the river having spent many happy hours rowing on it as an undergrad and more recently spotting the kingfishers while walking my dog. I am always up for a punting trip on a balmy summer’s day.