An Anglican School

Faith and Service

At St Mary’s, faith and service are at the heart of everything that we do. The Church of England Girls’ School, St Mary’s West Perth was founded on 14 September 1921 in the Church of England parish in West Perth by the then Rector of the parish of St Mary’s, The Reverend C L (Tom) Riley. The Reverend Riley, later Bishop Riley, was the School’s first Principal and Chair of the Board of Governors.

Formal worship, with focus on the Eucharist according to Anglican tradition, is an integral part of the cyclical life of the School. We resolve to maintain and build on our Anglican foundation and Christian values, and girls are reminded of that during regular chapel services and our Religious Studies program. Learn more about our School by viewing the Anglican Schools WA Ethos Statement.

Girls of many faiths and beliefs attend St Mary’s and all take part in our services, with the Eucharist being central to our community life. Girls from Kindergarten to Year 12 attend weekly or once per cycle chapel services. Boarders have their own weekly chapel service and from time to time they enjoy Chapel services with boarders from Hale School, our brother school. There are staff services to mark the beginning of each term and conclusion of the school year, and special services are held to mark Holy Week, All Souls Day and the approach of Christmas. In August each year, students from Years 3 to 12 join staff to celebrate through the Eucharist the School’s Patronal Festival, which is a highlight of the School’s liturgical calendar, as is the annual Year 12 Valedictory Chapel Service.

St Mary’s is proud to have Archbishop Kay Goldsworthy AO as a regular visitor to the school and to have the Archbishop and Bishops preside over some school services and significant occasions.

We are members of the Western Australian Anglican Schools Association and Anglican Schools Australia.

The Chapel of St Mary

Built and consecrated in 1981, the Chapel of St Mary is a spiritual place which is central to school life. All students and staff attend regular services in the Chapel, which belongs to all members of the St Mary’s community.

Preparation for Baptism, Admission to Holy Communion and Confirmation is available to current students, as well as Old Girls and other members of the St Mary’s community, with a service taking place in June each year. Many Old Girls return to the Chapel to be married or to have their children baptised, and our quiet and beautiful Chapel is, at times, the chosen place for funerals of members of the School community.

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THE REVEREND RUTH CHAPMAN

Our School Chaplain

The Reverend Ruth Chapman brings over a decade of experience in ministry, having served across diverse parish and school settings in the United Kingdom.

Most recently, she was the Pastoral Lead for short courses at Sherborne School, where she guided the pastoral care of both students and staff during summer and Easter programs. Her career has spanned government and private schools as well as rural and urban parishes, yet she is consistently drawn to working with young people, especially teenagers, whose growth and challenges inspire her ministry.

Student Leadership

Every year, a Year 12 day student and boarder are elected to the position of Chapel Prefect. They are responsible for assisting the Chaplain, especially in the planning and organisation of Year 12 services. Each of our Year 12 Community Captains, with the assistance of the Chaplain, also prepares and leads a service based on the theme of a Christian value. In the Junior School, several Year 6 girls are appointed each semester to form a Chapel Committee. They help plan and conduct our regular Junior School chapel services.

Cultivating Faith

Religious Studies is a subject in the timetables of all the girls from Kindergarten to Year 12. For our Junior School girls this is one period per week, while Senior School girls have one period per ten-day cycle. Our Religious Studies program provides an understanding of the development of Christianity and the Anglican Church. In the Junior School, Bible stories are an important focus, while the Senior School program includes the study of world religions and social justice issues.

Service to Others

Service to others is an integral part of leading a Christian life and is central to the ethos of our School. St Mary’s co-ordinates many programs and activities that encourage our girls to consider the lives and needs of others.