On Tuesday night, we began our 130th Year celebrations with a beautiful performance of A Mass for Peace, The Armed Man by Sir Karl Jenkins. The choir, featuring students, parents, and staff, came together to create a memorable evening of music and reflection.

The Work

First performed in the year 2000, the Armed Man, commissioned by the Royal Armouries, was written by Sir Karl Jenkins. It was dedicated to the victims of the conflict in Kosovo. Since 2000, world peace has seemed as far away as ever, but hope lives on and these words and music are still as popular today as when they were first performed.

The Kyrie, Sanctus, Agnus Dei and Benedictus are taken from the Latin Mass, Save me from Bloody Men from the word of psalms 56 and 59 and the final God Shall Wipe Away all Tears from the book of Revelation. Other lyrics come from the poems of Kipling, Dryden, Mallory and Tennyson, from other sources as diverse as a 15th century French folk song, and from the Muslim call to prayer, an ancient Sanskrit epic.

Planting the foundations of our legacy

As we proudly celebrate our 130th anniversary, we are excited to launch the 1894 Bursary Fund, a tribute to our founding year and a forward-looking initiative that plants the foundations of our enduring legacy. This bursary fund embodies our commitment to providing access to quality education for all, ensuring that financial barriers do not stand in the way of bright and deserving students. By supporting the 1894 Bursary Fund, you will be contributing into our rich history while investing in the future, empowering the next generation of leaders and upholding the values that have shaped our school for over a century.

Help us reach our £18,940 target by donating to the 1894 Bursary Fund by clicking the button below and making a lasting impact on the future of our students .