Chilworth School celebrates 150 years

Chilworth CofE Infant School is celebrating its 150th anniversary this year. Founded in 1873, the pupils and staff enjoyed a week of celebrations earlier in the year.

The school had a themed Victorian week in March, which culminated on the Friday with a ‘pilgrimage’ to St Martha's on the Hill.

The whole school dressed in Victorian costume and a photographer took a sepia photo. In keeping with the week’s theme, “No one was allowed to smile,” says Coralie Mankel, Head Teacher.

The thanksgiving service, led by the Revd David Oakden welcomed Archdeacon Paul Davies to speak on the theme of the Wise and Foolish Builders.

In the afternoon, the whole Chilworth community was invited to come to a tea party and ‘pop up museum’ in the school’s hall.

The local history society loaned the school historic photographs and artefacts. Coralie added all the school’s registers and log books to the collection.

The local history was a big hit. Using the registers people tracked family members across the ages. The photos offered images of Chilworth, that have long since gone, but linger in the memory.

At the other end of the hall, the tea party was in full swing. A parent loaned 100 vintage tea cups and plates to add to the festivities. Another, a professional violinist, provided live music. Among the visitors from the community was one centenarian, aged 102. “It was like a proper cafe, like going to the tearooms in Bath,” says Coralie.

In April, Bishop Andrew came to visit the school to celebrate the anniversary by leading the school’s Collective Worship and showing the children his crozier and special vestments.

“The events opened up the school to the community,” says Coralie. “We welcomed everybody in. We made new connections. The pilgrimage to St Marta’s on the Hill was so successful, we’ll certainly be doing that again.”