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At Farnborough Hill, our spiritual life is the heartbeat of our community.
As a Catholic school, we are proud of the strong ethos and heritage built by the Religious of Christian Education (RCE) Sisters. The values of our founding order continue to guide us today: a deep respect for every person’s dignity, joy in community, and a shared commitment to serving others. These values are not only woven into our Mission Statement - they are lived out daily by staff and pupils alike.
This extraordinary ethos sets Farnborough Hill apart. It creates a school where girls are nurtured, challenged, and inspired to grow - spiritually, morally, and personally - and where community, compassion, and celebration are central to all we do.
A Welcoming, Inclusive Faith Community
We are a Catholic school that joyfully welcomes pupils of all faiths and none. Spiritual development is offered in a way that each pupil can access and embrace at her own pace, in her own way. Our aim is always to educate the whole person and has been so since 1889.
Every school day begins with prayer, and there are many opportunities for reflection, celebration, and worship throughout the year. We gather for Mass around six times annually, including on Catholic holy days, and our beautiful Chapel at the heart of the school is regularly used for assemblies, services, and moments of quiet reflection.
Pupils are encouraged to take an active role in our liturgies as altar servers, Eucharistic Ministers, readers, actors, dancers, and singers. Our choir is a community within the community and add glorious voice to our services.
There is also a weekly staff prayer group, supporting the spiritual wellbeing of our staff community.
Spiritual Spaces
We are blessed with several sacred spaces, most notably our stunning Chapel, dating from 1932. It is our central place of worship but is also used more widely for Assemblies and quiet moments of prayer or reflection. There is a dedicated choir space, in the Tribune, which features an organ which was funded by the Old Girls.
Every year, pupils create a new altar cloth, each contributing in a creative way that includes their personal prayer intention. Our most recent cloth includes pledges linked to the Jubilee Pilgrimage of Hope.
The Lady Chapel is a quiet, contemplative space for personal prayer, featuring a prayer tree for intentions and rosaries to guide devotion.
The Haven, our newest sacred space, is multi-faith and multi-purpose. It provides a quiet refuge for individuals or small groups — popular during Ramadan and used for RE classes and Form reflections throughout the year.
Chaplaincy: Led with Care
Our spiritual life is led by our School Chaplain, Mrs Nelle Dalton, who supports pupils, staff, and families in their spiritual journeys. She coordinates liturgies, retreats, and prayer life, and works closely with the RE Department on enrichment programmes and RE-Act.
Mrs Dalton is supported by our Chaplaincy Gap Year Student, Miss Theodora Li, assistant Mrs Karen Davies, and the dedicated RE Department. Together, they bring warmth, energy, and creativity to every aspect of spiritual life.
We are blessed to have the support of local clergy, including Fr Anthony Lobo SDB, our Parish Priest, and a strong connection to Farnborough Abbey. We also maintain a close relationship with Our Lady’s School in Templeogue, Dublin, our sister RCE school.
Adding a special link to our history, Sister Elizabeth McCormack RCE, a former Headmistress, lives on site and remains a beloved part of the school community — known for her joyful presence, love of wildlife, and care of the school’s beehives.
We are part of the Diocese of Portsmouth and have a Diocesan Validation of the School - the published report can be downloaded here. Please pray for Bishop Philip Anthony Egan, Ordained Eighth Bishop of Portsmouth, 24 September 2012.