Bishops opens new school room

Published 18 Jun 2009 07:00 0 Comments

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THIS is the moment that a new extension to Reading"s oldest school was officially blessed and opened.

With outstretched hands, the Bishop of Reading, the Right Reverend Stephen Cottrell, and pupils, teachers and governors, prayed over the latest room at All Saints Church of England Infant School in Coley.

Headteacher Linda Phillips said: 'The bishop conducted a short service in All Saints church, where he delighted the children by dressing in his full bishop"s regalia, then he led a procession from the church to the school.

'Because the room is quite small the governors and the children in the school council were inside and everyone else was looking through the window.

'They had to hold out their hands while the room was being dedicated and blessed.

'It went really well, we had a lovely afternoon. The bishop also unveiled a plaque naming it the Margaret Wooldridge Room, after a governor who has worked at the school for 40 years. We thought it was a really fitting name for the room. She was overwhelmed when we told her.'

The bricks, glass and stone windows were all custom made to match the Grade II listed building and Mrs Phillips added: 'They to make the bricks more than once to get them absolutely correct. A lot of work went into it.'

The school opened in 1865 and is the oldest in Reading standing on its original site. It has 54 pupils and 13 staff, including part-time workers.

The new room will be used for staff and for teaching groups, pupils with special needs, meetings and cooking.

This article appeared in Reading Chronicle 18 Jun 09

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