In years past being a Head teacher of a major public school was seen as the gateway to higher office.  I can think of four Archbishops of Canterbury who were Head teachers earlier in their clerical careers - Edward White Benson at Wellington, Frederick Temple and his son, William Temple both at Rugby and, most recently, Geoffrey Fisher at Repton where his successor Michael Ramsey was a pupil under him.  Archbishop Fisher was very keen that Donald Coggan succeed him at Canterbury and said to Prime Minister Harold Macmillan (our last old Etonian P.M.) that he didn't think that Dr. Ramsey would be entirely "suitable". However "Mac the Knife" knew that Dr. Ramsey would be highly suitable and said - "Well, Archbishop, you may have been Michael Ramsey's headmaster but you're not mine, and I intend to appoint Dr. Ramsey, good afternoon."

        The Church has had a long and distinguished involvement in Education.  I think of the dear Venerable Bede as a boy in the monastic school at Lindisfarne where he had a curriculum consisting entirely of Basic Latin, Latin Grammar, Further Latin and Advanced Latin. This was to produce our first and greatest historian.

        To this day the Church's role in the education of our children is enormous.  Locally, we have two Church of England schools within this United Benefice.  Steve Taylor is doing a marvellous job as Acting Head of St. Mary's School in Kelvedon.  But as we are losing him at the end of this academic term and year I would like to use my article this month to pay tribute to the remarkable work done at Feering Church of England School by Greg Waters.

        My heart sank when I heard that Gregory John Waters had been appointed as Head teacher to The Bishops School in Chelmsford as we shall be so sorry and sad to lose him as Head teacher of Feering Church of England Primary School.

        One of the best things I have done in my incumbency here is to assist in Greg's appointment at Feering.  He was by far and away the best and most outstanding of the twelve candidates who applied for the post five years ago and we have been richly blessed by his time as Head teacher.

        Greg is the son of a clergyman and he has a very deep and sincere commitment to the Christian faith.  He is an active Diocesan Lay Reader and has on quite a number of occasions preached extremely well at All Saints' Feering.

        The relationship between church and school has been exceptionally good and we have had many special services for the school over the past five years.  These include, Easter, Harvest, Christingle, Christmas, the Ash Wednesday ashing ceremony, Mothering Sunday, End of Term services and Leavers Assemblies when those going on to senior schools all receive an olive wood cross from the Holy Land.  Most significantly we have also introduced School Eucharists as part of our annual programme.  The most memorable of these was when the Bishop of Colchester presided and thereafter spent much of the day in the school.  The bishop was highly impressed by all that was being achieved at our local church school.

        Earlier this year, during Holy Week at Feering School, the story of the Passion was told in words, symbols and music in a most informative and moving way.  This, I may add, was during a time when an Ofsted inspection was taking place!  Like our sister school at Kelvedon - the result was OUTSTANDING.  How fortunate we are in the two Church of England Primary Schools we have in this area.
 

        In addition to his strong and genuine Christian commitment Greg is also a highly talented musician.  There have been some amazing School productions during Greg's time as Head.  I particularly remember "Holy Joe" telling of the part St. Joseph, who is often neglected, played in the Gospel story.  The most outstanding and ambitious production was undoubtedly "The Pirates of Penzance".  I could hardly believe that such a difficult and challenging musical could be performed so well and so professionally by children so young.  But Greg undoubtedly got the best out of those children and it was little short of brilliant.  Then, of course, there was Jonah, in which I had the privilege of being asked to play God (voice off stage)!  The highlight of which was the appearance of an enormous great whale.  So when it comes to creativity Greg is an absolute asset and treasure.

        The biggest project in Greg's time at Feering has been the creation of the Multiple Use Games Area.  This has been a project which has cost many tens of thousands of pounds.  It has not been without its difficulties in achieving but Greg has seen the project through from beginning to completion and now both school and community can benefit from this excellent resource.

        As a person Greg has a most warm and approachable nature.  His care and concern for children, staff, parents and governors is second to none.  His devotion and vocation to his chosen profession shines through his character.  All in all he is a lovely man and without a shadow of doubt one of the very best Head teachers I have known in over thirty years in the ordained ministry.

        I am sure that Greg will indeed bring many blessings to the Bishops School, just as he has to Feering Church of England Primary School.  Again, may I say how deeply sorry we are to be losing Greg but it is inevitable that a man of his considerable talents and exceptional personal qualities would go on to bigger and higher challenges.  Many thanks for all that you have done and may God's blessings go with you.

Every Blessing,
Father David