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The Rev. John Silcox in the School’s handsome Chapel.
THE Rev. John Silcox can boast one of the most youthful congregations within the Church of Scotland.
For the personable minister from Ayrshire is Chaplain at Queen Victoria School where the bulk of his flock are the school's 270 pupils. Religion plays a main part in the life of the school with boys attending morning service in the beautiful memorial Chapel every day. A longer public service is held every Sunday morning and special religious festivals are marked with appropriate services.
About 80 per cent of the boys at QVS are Church of Scotland but Roman Catholic and Episcopalian chaplains are regular attenders at the school to cater for other denominations.
Because of their early constant involvement with the Church, Mr Silcox explained that the boys were accepted to join the Church at the age of 15 and indeed, a high percentage of them choose to do so. I am aware that I have a unique congregation at "Queen Victoria School" said Mr Silcox. "Parish ministers are, so aware of their congregations being predominantly middle aged and elderly people. Here it is mainly teenagers."
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Congregation with accent on youth
And Mr Silcox admits that his rewarding work with the youngsters at Dunblane is as perfect a task in life as he could ask. The families resident on the school campus ensure that he has "parish" duties to attend to as well as Church service and morning assembly commitments.
But Mr Silcox 's duties do not stop there. The QVS Chaplain is also a schoolmaster, taking classes in religious studies and history.
Mr Silcox also works as a boarding master in the junior, Wavell House where he feels he plays the role of friend" as well as teacher and Chaplain. " As a minister first and a teacher second, I feel I have to try to get that little bit closer to the boys than the other teachers might do," he said. "It's important that they have someone to come to and while there are plenty of teachers who meet that need, I feel a pastoral duty to be there for them if they need me."
As a Territorial Army Chaplain, Mr Silcox has a wide experience of the services and can identify with anything the boys' serving fathers may be involved in.
"Often the boys are frightened for their Dads' safety and I can talk them through their fears and explain the high training and military set up which is protecting their loved ones," he said. "I think because they know I am familiar with the military animal I can give them the information and reassurances they need."
But Mr Silcox is first to admit that the boys themselves fulfil many of his pastoral duties. "The boys learn from a very early age indeed to look after and comfort each other," he explained. "Homesickness in the first few weeks is the main upset and an older pupil can be the best person to help him settle."
Another unique feature of Mr Silcox 's charge is the beautiful Chapel itself, built as a memorial to all those who fell in the South African War. Opened in 1910, the building is of Norman design and can seat up to 450.
And, Mr Silcox was delighted to stress that the Chapel is not only used for school services. Old Victorians often return to the Chapel to be married or have their children christened there - and Mr Silcox and his predecessors were only too pleased to oblige
"My commitment here is a very broad one," explained the Chaplain," but it is a most rewarding one.
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