CAPTION: Pictured: Rev'd John Bennett, Vicar of St Micahel's Ilsington, Kat Williams, new Headteacher of Islington Church of England Primary School, Russell Pearson, new Headteacher of Blackpool Church of England Primary School, and Sarah Lakey from the Diocesan Education Team
Two Headteachers Commissioned in their New Roles at a Church Christingle Service
On Sunday 8th December, the children, families and the local community of Ilsington gathered together for an advent and Christingle service, which saw the commissioning of two new Headteachers in their roles.
Kat and Russell both started their roles as Headteachers this year.
Kat Williams, the new Headteacher at Ilsington Church of England Primary School who started in her post in September 2024, was commissioned alongside Russell Pearson, the new Headteacher at Blackpool Church of England Primary School who began his post in January 2024.
The service took place at St Michael’s Church, Ilsington, and Kat and Russell were commissioned by Rev’d John Bennett, the Vicar of St Michael’s Church in Islington. John also shared prayers of blessings for both Kat and Russell, whilst pupils from both Primary Schools stood alongside their headteachers at the front of the church.
During the commissioning part of the service, the Headteachers declared their public commitment to the church school leadership, and received the gift of a Bible from the church community.
Sarah Lakey represented the Diocesan Education Team and presented both Kat and Russell with the book ‘Flourishing’, to help guide their spiritual leadership.
Following the Commissioning, the congregation continued with a church advent and Christingle service, which saw children from the local schools and their families making Christingles and exploring the Christmas story together.
Sarah Lakey said, “It is such a privilege to attend commissioning services as Headteachers take up the mantle of leadership in our diocesan family of church schools.”
Rev’d John Bennett, Vicar at St Michael’s Church in Islington, said, “As a church we have such a good and supportive relationship with both Blackpool and Ilsington Schools; it was a great joy to commission and pray for our new headteachers as part of our Christingle service which included lots of children and their parents from both schools.”
Russell Pearson said, “The commissioning service was a very warm and supportive experience.
“It was reassuring to feel that my local community and local church were ‘behind me’ and keen to see me succeed in my role at Blackpool. I’m grateful for this support and was touched to see some children from my school there to support me too.”
Kat Williams said, “The commissioning service was a really special occasion where I felt so welcomed by the whole community. Since starting at Ilsington C of E, St Michael’s Church have been so supportive and it was lovely to have so many parents, carers and children at the church during the service.”
