Diocese of Chichester

To live life in all its fullness (John’s Gospel 10 v 10) came alive across all sites, students and staff as they were offered the opportunity to explore faith, purpose and well-being in creative, thought-provoking, and inspiring ways — making it a truly transformational experience for the whole school community.

Throughout the week, classrooms, corridors, drama halls, and even canteens became hubs of laughter, reflection, and meaningful discussion. An ecumenical team of over 170 volunteers from local churches joined forces with the SGS Chaplaincy Team to deliver a full programme of events designed to bring faith to life.

Highlights of Mission Week

Prayer Zones on each site offered peaceful spaces for reflection and calm, with students invited to pause, breathe, and receive blessings. Activities like bubble prayers, colouring for calm, and blessing bracelets created tangible reminders of peace and hope. Encounter Teams engaged students in conversations about life and faith, sharing popcorn, “fruits of the spirit” bracelets, and sweets.

More than 800 Bibles were given out and eagerly received by students, many of whom could be seen reading them and discussing their meaning during break times.

‘Grill a Christian’ RE sessions gave students the chance to ask honest, sometimes challenging questions about faith and belief. Volunteers shared personal stories of living out Christian faith in everyday life, sparking deep and thoughtful classroom discussions.

‘Illuminate’ wellbeing lessons led by the band LZ7 combined music, dance, and discussion to help students explore mental health, identity, and purpose. Their message (“there’s only one you”) inspired students to consider their full potential. About 95% of participants chose to take a symbolic step toward leaving negativity behind and embracing “life in all its fullness.”

After-school gigs by LZ7 and Saintz brought year groups together in a joyful celebration of music and meaning, where hundreds of students responded to invitations to follow Jesus and begin new journeys of faith.

The Bishop of Horsham, Ruth Bushyager, conducted holy communion, offering a moment of reflection and forgiveness – a symbolic new start for those who attended.

A Lasting Impact

The Behaviour Leads at the school said there had been a transformation in behaviour throughout the week. Mission Week has ignited new opportunities for ongoing faith exploration at Steyning Grammar School with the launch of Church@5, a new weekly youth-focused service in the school’s Drama Hall at Shooting Field. In addition, the Youth Alpha course has started on each campus, inviting students to continue asking big questions about life and faith in a welcoming, open environment.

Reflecting on the week, the school chaplain said: “Much is said about the challenges young people face today – anxiety, social media pressures, and negative behaviour. At SGS this week, the opposite was true. Our school motto, ‘to live life in all its fullness’ (John’s Gospel 10 v 10), came alive throughout Mission Week. Love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness, and self-control were the hallmarks of everything said and done. The care shown by staff, the chaplaincy team, and volunteers has had a transformational impact on our school, where everyone is known, valued, and loved for who they are.”

Faith in Action

Teachers, volunteers, and students alike described the week as uplifting and life-giving. From “joyful mosh pits” with LZ7, to quiet moments of prayer and reflection, Mission Week created a unique space where faith met fun, and community flourished. One volunteer summed it up beautifully:

“Perhaps a little slice of heaven dropped into West Sussex this week.” Felicity Barnunm-Bobb Comms Co-ordinator Mission Week.