Church Services and Our Partnership with St Mary's Church

Thorpe CofE Primary School is blessed to enjoy a strong and longstanding relationship with St Mary's Church, Thorpe, and with Fr Stephen Girling. This partnership plays an important role in nurturing the spiritual development of our pupils and helping them to flourish with God and neighbour through faith, love and excellence.

Throughout the year, our pupils attend a number of special services at St Mary's Church, each providing meaningful opportunities to live out our Christian vision and values.

Harvest Festival

Our first church service of the academic year is the Harvest Festival. This is a joyful celebration where children learn to be thankful for the many blessings they receive and to recognise God's provision in their lives. Through donations to the Runnymede Foodbank, pupils demonstrate Empathy, Respect and Love for others by supporting those who may be experiencing hardship. It is a wonderful opportunity for our school community to come together and make a positive difference locally.

Remembrance Service

In November, we gather for our annual Remembrance Service. During this important act of collective worship, we honour and remember those men from Thorpe who gave their lives in the First and Second World Wars. Through reflection and prayer, pupils develop a deeper understanding of sacrifice, service and courage, while learning to show Respect and gratitude for those who have served others.

Christmas Celebrations

The Christmas season is a particularly special time in our church calendar. Pupils help to decorate St Mary's Church with artwork and creations that celebrate the birth of Jesus. Parishioners greatly enjoy seeing the children's work displayed throughout the festive period.

Children participate in either a traditional Carol Service or a Christingle Service, both of which provide opportunities to reflect on the hope, joy and love at the heart of the Christmas story. These services encourage children to show Trust in God and Empathy towards others as they celebrate the gift of Jesus with the wider community.

Easter Services

Easter provides a powerful time for reflection and worship. Through the story of Holy Week and Jesus' death and resurrection, pupils explore the ultimate sacrifice made out of love for humanity. This message connects closely with our school values, particularly Empathy, Respect, Trust and Honesty, as children consider how they can show kindness, forgiveness and compassion in their own daily lives. Easter reminds us that hope can emerge from even the most difficult circumstances and encourages our pupils to live out their faith through their actions.

Year 6 Leavers' Service

Our final church service of the year is the Year 6 Leavers' Service. This special occasion celebrates the children's journey through Thorpe Primary School and provides an opportunity to reflect on their achievements, friendships and personal growth. Pupils share memories and express gratitude for their time at the school while families join us in marking this important milestone.

The service encourages children to look to the future with confidence, continuing to live by our values and to Aim High in all that they do. It is a memorable and fitting conclusion to their time at Thorpe and a celebration of the strong partnership between our school and St Mary's Church that has supported them throughout their journey.

Through these services and our ongoing relationship with St Mary's Church, we seek to help every child develop spiritually, grow in faith and character, and flourish as part of God's world.

 

Services Held at Thorpe Primary School in 2025–26

In addition to the services held at St Mary's Church, we were delighted to welcome members of the church community to Thorpe CofE Primary School for two special outdoor acts of worship during the 2025–26 academic year.

Pentecost Service

In May, Fr Stephen Girling led a special Pentecost service on our school field. Children used drama to retell the story of Pentecost, helping the whole school reflect on the coming of the Holy Spirit and the courage of Jesus' disciples. A highlight of the service was singing When I Need a Neighbour, which reinforced Jesus' teaching to "love your neighbour as yourself". This linked closely to our school vision of flourishing with God and neighbour through faith, love and excellence and encouraged pupils to demonstrate Empathy, Respect and Trust in their daily lives.

 

Outdoor Service with Bishop Paul

In July, we were honoured to welcome Bishop Paul to Thorpe Primary School for a special outdoor service. During the worship, Year 5 pupils performed a moving retelling of the story of the Good Samaritan, exploring the importance of showing kindness and compassion to others.

Bishop Paul spoke to the children about the importance of caring for one another and celebrated the strength of the Thorpe community. His message highlighted the Christian call to love and support our neighbours, regardless of their background or circumstances. The service provided a wonderful opportunity for pupils to reflect on our values of Empathy, Respect and Honesty, while recognising how these values help us build a caring and inclusive school community where everyone can flourish.

These outdoor services were memorable occasions that strengthened our partnership with St Mary's Church and enriched the spiritual life of our school. They provided valuable opportunities for children to engage with Bible stories, deepen their understanding of Christian teachings and live out our vision through worship, reflection and service to others.

Please follow this link to see the parish boundary map