A hush settles over the refectory before lunch as a teacher recites a blessing. Twice a week, students and teachers share personal stories in chapel. And in the Upper and Lower School, boys attend religion classes. St. Albans’ identification as a church school, and specifically an Episcopal school, manifests itself in many easy-to-see ways.
But perhaps more importantly, being a church school allows for conversations about faith and morality—in English class, on the playing fields, and, yes, at chapel. Students are encouraged to ask themselves, What gives my life meaning? How can I best serve others? Who am I and what kind of person do I want to be?
A fundamental tenet of the Episcopal tradition calls for people to “strive for justice and peace among all people and to respect the dignity of every human being.” Episcopal schools encourage students of all faiths, or of no faith tradition, to develop a fuller understanding of their own beliefs and heritage as well as their classmates’.
Being a church school is integral to our identity as a community. Long after graduation, the school welcomes back alumni and their families for baptisms, weddings, and memorial services.