Church Community

Our churches are deeply committed to playing their part in making St Stephen’s School the incredibly special place that it is. We welcome opportunities to interact both in school and in church, and we cherish the joy, love and laughter our children share with us  - like a body with many parts the school and our churches are one.

Church involvement in the school:

• St Stephen’s church plays a major role in running the school by appointing from its congregations the majority of the school’s governors, including the Chair of Governors.
• Members of the church’s congregation go into school to help with reading, singing, pastoral support and Collective Worship.
• The children and staff attend school-specific celebrations for all the major events of the Christian year, plus end-of-term services including the very special end-of-year service for Year 6 leavers. Parents are always welcome to come along.

Family events at St Stephen’s church

• Every week, during the 10:45am church service, St Stephen’s church welcomes a mass of children to the Sunday Club groups, where we try to make them feel welcome and to enjoy their experience of church. Once a month there is a family service at St Stephen’s when the children lead the worship. 
• There is a Friday night youth group that is mainly populated by St Stephen’s School alumni who are now at secondary school, providing a way of staying in touch with old friends. 
• St Stephen’s also hosts a Monday morning parent and toddler group, run by parents, with many of the children eventually going on to St Stephen’s school having forged friendships at the group.

Church links

In 1985 the parishes of Bath, St Stephen’s and St Mary the Virgin, Charlcombe were merged and became a United Benefice, today both churches play a vital role in the life of the school. Our Priest-in-Charge takes care of both parishes and is a ‘living bridge’ between the church and school.

The school also benefits from its links with Christ Church, Julian Road, local ministry group partner to St Stephen’s and St Mary’s churches, and from its links via members of the teaching staff with Widcombe Baptist Church.

Our Priest

The Reverend Philip Hawthorn (AKA Reverend Philip), has been Priest in Charge of St Mary's Charlcombe and St Stephen’s Lansdown since 2010. He is married to Lizzie and they have five children, Ted, Annie, Peter, Billy and Ellie.

Before arriving in Bath, Philip was curate in the parish of Hardington Vale near Frome comprising six villages, Norton St Philip, Rode, Hemington, Laverton, Tellisford and Farleigh Hungerford.

Before switching careers, Philip was involved chiefly in children’s media as a writer and producer in television and radio (BBC mostly), and an author of children’s books.

An invitation

Just as the school welcomes and respects those who come from different denominations, faiths and those who have no faith, so does the church – it is open to all, wherever you are on your journey of faith.  We welcome you to join us at one of our weekly services and to become part of our church family.