A $1.25 million anonymous donation was recently awarded to All Saints Episcopal School for the purpose of permanently endowing the chaplaincy position at the school.
“We are honored to receive this extraordinary gift that is transformational and will create an even stronger future for All Saints,” said All Saints Head of School Robert Brashear in a news release.
Beginning with the school’s establishment in 1956, All Saints’ mission has been to provide excellence in academics, fine arts, athletics, spiritual development, and community service. As a Christian school firmly rooted in the Episcopal tradition, a daily chapel service is conducted by the school chaplain. Daily chapel is regarded as the center of community life and includes music, scripture readings, and prayer.
“My children were blessed to be a part of the special, loving, and inclusive environment at All Saints Episcopal School,” the anonymous endowment donor said. “By endowing the Chaplaincy, my desire is to ensure that the school will always have a chaplain who will be able to integrate spiritual formation into all aspects of the educational experience while encouraging the All Saints Way.”
All Saints currently has an Endowment Fund. The Chaplaincy Endowment is the school’s first and only endowed faculty position. Funding currently used for the chaplain’s position will eventually be able to be used for other needs at the school.
“The All Saints Endowment Fund was created 16 years ago when the school launched an endowment campaign known as the Celebrating Excellence Campaign. The effort raised $2.3 million in funds which were invested to provide a continuing source of income for the school,” said All Saints Director of Advancement Celeste Thompson. “Endowed gifts create a lasting legacy for the school that help to ensure long term sustainability.”
As an outgrowth of the commitment to intellectual and spiritual development that characterizes Episcopal schools, the study of religion goes hand in hand with the academic program.
“The generous gift of the Chaplaincy Endowment will allow the chaplain to fully dedicate his or her time and resources to the All Saints Episcopal school community,” said All Saints Chaplain Rev. Paige McKay. “I have served as the school’s part time chaplain for 14 years. Moving forward with a singular focus all day each day of serving the spiritual needs of our campus will allow for even more pastoral care needs being met.”
Community life is another important component of the All Saints experience. The school strives to support and nurture the physical, mental, and emotional health of each student. Community service and service-learning are also an integral part of the school. Having a school chaplain supports and assists in these areas as well.
“All Saints has benefited from having a part time chaplain since its founding in 1956,” McKay said. “The Chaplaincy Endowment allows for pastoral care beyond leading chapel each morning, and can now further include biblical counseling and prayer, visiting the sick in hospitals or at home, and staying in touch throughout the day via texts, phone calls, lunch time with students, and being available to students during passing periods. It is truly the answer to a long-time prayer of many.”
