St Charles Square has always been a focal point for education in North Kensington. Students have come and gone, passed through and moved on to the next chapter of their lives. However, on 14th September something momentous took place. North Kensington was celebrating the inauguration Mass for All Saints Catholic College, a new mixed secondary school for local children.
All Saints has a rich history; successive schools have occupied the same site since before the Second World War, with the latest being Sion-Manning Catholic Girls School. Two years ago under the stewardship of Headteacher Andrew O’ Neill, plans to transform secondary education on the square began.
To mark the change, Bishop John Wilson led a Mass in appreciation of this new beginning. To the sounds of Surrexit Christus, the congregation filled the old school hall.
Bishop John noted how this square had witnessed many changes, and indeed many challenges, but All Saints was a beacon for future generations. He spoke of God’s act of generosity in sending his only Son to the world. He explained that kindness should be the act of every human being. This is particularly important for the congregation, as school life is founded upon kindness and a generosity of spirit.
The 150 boys and girls of Year 7 along with the rest of the school sang with gusto and reverence. Mass was concelebrated by Parish Priest Fr Peter Wilson who is a governor and regular visitor to All Saints. At the end of Mass, guests were invited out to the garden for light refreshments. The wild garden, as it is affectionately known, is yet another symbol of growth and rebirth on the square.
