Celebrating the Chapel Centenary

Led by our Chaplain, Reverend Claire Latimer-Dennis, and members of the Chapel Council, special services for students and alumnae honoured the legacy of the BSS Chapel, reminding us of its integral role in our mission to inspire girls to be fearless and educate them to be leaders.

In the Junior School, students celebrated with a joyful rendition of Happy Birthday, complete with hats and noisemakers, and shared stories from the Chapel’s dedication in 1926. 

In the Middle and Senior School, students considered the significance of the Chapel’s stonework and stained glass windows as visible representations of bold female leadership throughout BSS history. Alumna Emily SCHWARTZ Rabe ’04 shared her memories of Chapel as a daily grounding ritual that links generations of students. Lastly, Dr. Terpstra commented on the history of women’s rights and equality in Canada, highlighting the Chapel’s significance for girls and women in the 1920s and its continued social and ethical importance today.

On April 21, alumnae gathered for a service featuring music from the Senior School and Alumnae Choirs and a sermon by Bishop Victoria MATTHEWS ’72, the first female Anglican Bishop in Canada. Bishop Matthews spoke of the Chapel as a symbol of humility and a reminder that we do not have all the answers. Drawing on the story of Mary and Martha, she invited us to see Mary’s choice to sit, listen and learn as a radical act. Finally, she reflected on the Chapel as a space that has long nurtured the spiritual lives of girls — an essential foundation for ethical leadership in the world. 

The celebrations included an historical display curated by archivist Jill Spellman that connected our heritage with the spirit of BSS today. The display highlighted the community’s early resilience, as students and teachers gathered in a temporary sanctuary in the Great Hall from 1915 - 1926 while the Chapel was constructed, and the commitment of the alumnae community, who in 1927 donated 15 pounds of personal jewelry to be melted into Chapel silver. It also showcased the evolving voice of the BSS girl, from traditional “ministering women” to barrier-breaking leaders, such as the Class of 1975, who collectively voted to end the Chapel veil tradition. Today, this fearless leadership is mirrored in our Chapel program’s commitment to ethical citizenship, through initiatives such as Black History and Excellence, Pride, Truth and Reconciliation and mental health awareness.