Friday 8 May saw the joyful commemoration of the 125th anniversary of the consecration of Our Lady of the Angels Chapel. The special service also marked the start of a year of celebrations for the 60th anniversary of the founding of Princethorpe College. 

Princethorpe welcomed over 150 guests to the College including Fr Joe McGee, MSC Provincial Leader, Sr Mary Lucy from the Benedictine order, Dr Gerald Hyland of the Pugin Society, the Right Rev. Geoffrey Scott OSB, Librarian and Archivist of Douai Abbey, as well as three former College Headmasters, two former College Bursars, two former Deputy Heads and many Old Princethorpians, along with current trustees, staff, pupils, parents, Fr Teddy O'Brien MSC and parishioners for a truly uplifting concelebration of Mass.

The evening’s historic celebrations commenced with the Chapel’s bells ringing out across the campus and surrounding countryside playing Princethorpe (1871) by William Pitts. The first official sounding of the bells in many a year.  

The service reflected not only on the beauty of the magnificent building but also movingly the pivotal role the Chapel has played in the life of the College and in the personal lives of so many over the years.

Fr McGee led the Mass, joined on the dais by fellow MSCs Fr Alan Whelan, Fr Carl Tranter, Fr David Nixon, Fr Tony Horgan and the Rt Rev Geoffrey Scott OSB. 

In his homily, Fr McGee, gave thanks to all who have played a role in the history of the Chapel, from the Benedictine nuns who had the vision and courage to build Our Lady of the Angels, to the generations of Princethorpe communities who have gathered and worshiped within its walls. He reminded us that Our Lady of the Angels is a place where all faiths and none have been welcomed bearing witness to innumerable gatherings from weddings to recitals, ordinations to assemblies, as well as masses over the years. Truly a place for all - keeping strong the Roman Catholic tradition of welcoming everyone.

During the service the College’s Choir performed an anthem specially created for the occasion, The Mercies Of The Lord, with music by Director of Music, Gil Cowlishaw, and words by former staff member, Moira Weir. The piece was accompanied by Old Princethorpian and organist, Chris Beaumont.

The service was followed by a fascinating talk delivered by Foundation Archivist, Jo Wong, and former staff member, Peter Griffin, that delved into the long history of Our Lady of the Angels Chapel.

The evening finished with a reception in the Sixth Form Atrium where the guests mingled, reconnecting with former peers and friends and recalling with fondness their memories of the Chapel.

A huge thank you to all those who attended and made the evening such a success and also to all those involved in organising such a momentous and memorable event.

To watch the Mass click here and to watch the Archive presentation click here.