St Saviour’s and St Olave’s is proud to be a Church of England school and in the best tradition of that heritage we celebrate many key events in the Christian Calendar.

Harvest

Each year we celebrate Harvest with huge support from the students, parents and staff who donate and bring in gifts of food and drink. Everyone is encouraged to bring in at least one item to school. The food is then collected by local charities such as the Manna Centre who can use them to help those in need in our community.

Christmas

The whole school walks to Southwark Cathedral for this annual Carol Service. This is a joyous occasion which bases itself loosely around the traditional lessons and carols service, with a theme chosen by the school. Recent themes have included ‘gifts’, ‘angels’ and ‘love’. Every form are represented in the liturgy with readings, candle processions and incredible music filling the Cathedral in celebration.

Commemoration

Each year, we come together as a school community to celebrate our birthday with a special service of commemoration and thanksgiving.

In recent years, we have also marked significant anniversaries, such as the 400th anniversary of the King James Bible. One of our more recent celebrations focused on the theme “Women transforming the world with resilience and compassion,” a joyful and inspiring occasion that honoured the many contributions made by women throughout history.

Every year, we select a different theme for our commemorations, carefully chosen to reflect important milestones or key areas of focus within our school community. These themes often celebrate our diversity, our faith, and the wide-ranging opportunities we offer. Our services are always vibrant, colourful, and full of joy, bringing our school together in meaningful celebration.

Monthly Eucharists

Once a term, we hold a voluntary Eucharist in our school chapel during lunchtime. This is a special moment for our school community to come together, share the bread and wine, which symbolise the body and blood of Jesus, and celebrate the presence of God at the heart of our school. It’s a time for reflection, offering a peaceful space to pause, reconnect with what truly matters, and bring our thoughts and prayers to God. Everyone in our school community is warmly invited to join us for this meaningful service.

Other Services

.Every other year, we hold a baptism and confirmation service in our school chapel, led by our Bishop. Confirmation is a significant moment in the life of an Anglican, where individuals publicly declare their commitment to living as Christians. To prepare for this, we offer a thoughtful programme that spans several months, during which we explore the Christian faith, reflect on its relevance in our daily lives, and spend time in prayer together. The confirmation service marks a joyful conclusion to this journey, with friends and family of the candidates invited to join in the celebration. We warmly invite all members of our school community to consider the opportunity of confirmation.

Once a year, we also gather for a Whole School Eucharist. This is a meaningful event, where clergy and some current and former staff offer blessings, as well as distribute bread and wine, to our students and staff from five distribution points around the hall. This large, shared service fosters a strong sense of identity, not only within our school but also as part of the wider Anglican community.