Archbishop Bernard Longley Opens New Teaching Wing at Princethorpe

Princethorpe College was delighted to welcome The Most Reverend Bernard Longley, Archbishop of Birmingham to officially open The Limes.

The new state-of-the-art learning wing was blessed during a moving ceremony involving the whole College community. Invited guests included: former Headmaster of Princethorpe College Mr John Shinkwin, Chair of the Trustees Mrs Mary O’ Farrell, Father Alan Whelan, Father Teddy O’Brien, Head of Crackley Hall School Mr Rob Duigan and Trustees Mr Quintin Cornforth and Sister Jude Bogie.

Headmaster Mr Ed Hester began the afternoon’s order of service by using the Lime trees as a metaphor of our place in the world. “They remind us that we are a part of something bigger… they embody the growth, rejuvenation, strength and beauty of Princethorpe College communities past, present and yet to come.” Mr Hester expressed his feelings that without its pupils The Limes can only ever be “just a building.” He praised the kindness, tolerance, courtesy and love engrained in the DNA of Princethorpians that would, in time, make its mark on this fabulous new building.

In his homily Archbishop Bernard Longley gave reference to the reading from Peter 2: 4-9, calling The Limes a “living building” inside which each of us would play an important role as a cornerstone chosen by God. He gave thanks to those who designed and built The Limes and commended the staff and pupils at Princethorpe for the deep roots they have helped to embed within the Archdiocese of Birmingham.

Archbishop Bernard Longley blessed the procession of crucifixes before formally cutting a ribbon into the new building where each of the crucifixes were placed in the thirteen new classrooms and IT suites. An official unveiling of The Limes plaque helped by Head Boy Simon Fisher and Head Girl Maddie Wigmore-Sykes brought the afternoon’s proceedings to a close.