Berkely: Best yet to come for Bishop Anstey

The Bishop Anstey High School has the opportunity to see even greater things than they have already seen in their hundred-year existence. But it would require all the stakeholders – principals, staff, students, parents, the Ministry of Education and a host of other collaborators – to have faith in what the school can offer to girls, and the nation as a whole.

So said the Right Reverend Bishop Claude Berkely on Sunday during a service held in celebration of the Bishop Anstey High School

The bishop in thanking all stakeholders, especially the students, borrowed from the book of John, Chapter 1, verse 43, to tell them the best was yet to come for the school and all who are part of it.

“The gospel promises that we will see greater things, but we have to believe. And in these days we are rather flippant with our beliefs. We are rather casual in terms of what we pursue to a positive end, especially if it requires sacrifice.

“But we have to believe the vision and mission (of the school) and we have to practice it. And we have to do so with the help of our lord and saviour, Jesus Christ. Then the same lord and saviour will open the heavens to enable a brighter vision and purpose.”

He reminded the congregation, a few of whom were gathered physically at Queen’s Hall, and others who were watching virtually on Facebook and YouTube, of the schools motto: Non sine pulvere palmanm which when loosely translated from Latin means “not without great effort comes the victory.”

Berkely said the school’s founder, Bishop Arthur Henry Anstey sought to open a school so that poorly treated girls could be raised up in God.

“He saw inadequacy and set out to do something about it. He established a school for ‘the other girls’ where they were to be brought up in godliness and sound learning in an Anglican environment. That is the essence of the vision of the school.”

Bishop’s Anstey High School was founded and opened on January 13, 1921.