A true sense of community

Peter Moyes Anglican Community School, WA

Within the close-knit community of Peter Moyes Anglican Community School and St Gregory’s Parish, the Chapel of St Gregory’s stands as a cherished spiritual space for school students, staff, families and parishioners to come together for worship, celebration and collaboration.

The relationship between Peter Moyes Anglican Community School and St Gregory’s Parish has grown in strength over the years, becoming a shining example of partnership between Parish and School.

St Gregory’s Parish Priest, The Reverend Peter Hotchkin, was appointed to the role in January 2021, and immediately set about building a strong relationship between the School and Parish.

He played a key role in developing a renewed Memorandum of Understanding between the School and the Parish, solidifying their commitment to work together for the benefit of the wider community. His involvement in this process led to an invitation to become a member of the School Council.

Father Peter believes that the Anglican identity and ethos of the School are paramount.

“For me, the comprehensive Anglican Identity of the School means being a place of acceptance, inclusion and open-heartedness. Values we see lived in the life of Jesus. I bring that Anglican Identity to the Council and want to help the School continue to grow in that direction,” he said.

“The Diocese of Perth and the Anglican Schools Commission had been planning the relocation of the Parish of Quinns-Butler to School grounds for more than 10 years, ultimately finalising the transition in 2019.

“The Chapel is visually striking both inside and outside and makes more of an impression than the Parish imagined. The Chapel is high on the grounds and people can see us from many directions. It is pretty difficult to miss a huge Cross on a sandstone building on the top of a hill. The

Cross, illuminated at night, stands lovingly as a beacon of faith over the local community.”

Father Peter says that from the very beginning, Peter Moyes Anglican Community School had been exceptionally welcoming. The staff’s attendance and warm welcome at his Commissioning as Parish Priest demonstrated the School’s commitment.

Both the School and Parish actively seek opportunities to engage with one another.

“The School supports us with publicity for our Christmas and Easter services, our weekly Holy Communion services, Pancake Day, School Holiday Fun Days, and our annual fundraising fete. I’m also invited to attend significant events in the life of the School, and currently I’m covering the role of School Chaplain while he is taking Long Service Leave,” he said.

School families and alumni have also embraced St Gregory’s Chapel as a sacred space for Baptisms, weddings, and funerals. This partnership between the School and the Parish has allowed families within the school community to celebrate and honour these important milestones within the spiritual setting of the Chapel.

“Old Scholars come back to the School for these life events because the School was a place of encountering God and the Chapel is a connection to their spirituality,” Father Peter said.

“As a Parish and a School, together we are working hard to enrich the life of each ministry and community role, to support each other, and to demonstrate an inclusive and welcoming Anglican Identity in the community.”