The sun shone this week for the opening of the Prayer Garden at Our Lady Immaculate Primary School, Chelmsford. The garden was designed, constructed and funded by New Hall School, which works in partnership with the primary school. The newly created space was officially opened this week by New Hall’s Principal, Mrs Katherine Jeffrey, in a ceremony celebrating faith, reflection, and community spirit.

The Prayer Garden is a thoughtfully curated space, providing pupils and staff with a peaceful environment for prayer, reflection and connection. It features a canopy, an outdoor altar, a willow walk, benches, beautifully arranged planters. The central feature is a statue of Our Lady. Pupils from Our Lady Immaculate’s Chaplaincy Team helped to choose the furniture, ensuring that the space reflects the tastes and interests of the pupils who use it.

In addition to its primary role as a place of worship and reflection, the garden will also be a valuable resource for outdoor learning, enriching the educational experience for pupils.

Speaking at the opening ceremony, Mrs Sophie Gibbs, Head of School at Our Lady Immaculate, said, “It has been wonderful to see the pupils’ excitement as they explore the new Prayer Garden. They have already started using the space for quiet reflection and prayer, and it is clear how much it means to them.”

Mrs Katherine Jeffrey, Principal of New Hall School, commented, “We are delighted to see the Prayer Garden come to life, providing a peaceful sanctuary for pupils to reflect, to pray and to grow in the Faith. At New Hall, we are committed to supporting our local community and fostering spiritual development. We are delighted to have provided the inspiration, expertise and resources for creating this special space at Our Lady Immaculate.  It has been a pleasure to celebrate and to pray with the children for this opening ceremony. They were brilliant guides around the garden, explaining to me why they are excited to have this beautiful place, and the joy it has already brought them.”

At New Hall, the ethos is inspired by its founding Religious Community, the Canonesses of the Holy Sepulchre. The faith that forms the foundation of the School remains central to the character of New Hall School today. Remaining true to the founding vision in 1642, New Hall School supports students, and the wider community, in their faith development. Through community work, hospitality, and voluntary service, the School actively promotes Christian beliefs and values.

As a charity, in alignment with its commitment to public benefit, New Hall School also shares its historic campus and first-class facilities with educational and religious groups in the wider community. This initiative reflects the School’s dedication to fostering spiritual growth and community engagement. The next major event, open to the public, will be at New Hall Boreham House, where a festival and conference will be held, on the theme of Leadership & Legacy: the future of women in the Church. This one-day conference will be hosted by New Hall School and the international Catholic weekly, The Tablet, on Friday 11 July 2025.  This is part of a programme celebrating the 185^th anniversary of The Tablet.