New Hall School recently welcomed 72 students and teachers from Heilig Graf School for the inaugural Holy Sepulchre Community Festival, held from 8 – 11 May. The two schools share a long Catholic heritage through the Canonesses of the Holy Sepulchre, whose community continued its mission of education in England after fleeing Belgium in the 17th century.
The festival brought together more than 130 students and staff for a weekend celebrating faith, friendship and shared tradition. Organised by Head of Boarding Sam Higgs, activities included equestrian sessions, an open mic night, a joint art project, cricket, a Belgian cookery masterclass and cycling obstacle courses.
A highlight of the weekend was a special Sunday Mass celebrated by school chaplain Fr Andrew Robinson, in New Hall’s historic Chapel. It was attended by students, staff and nuns from the Priory in Colchester, celebrating the generations of educators and young people connected through the Canonesses’ mission. The historic Chapel is in its 228th year of celebrating Catholic Mass.
Dr Paul Tiffen, Vice Principal at New Hall, said the school was delighted to receive historical artefacts from Heilig Graf linked to New Hall’s founding in Liège and looked forward to strengthening ties further with a return visit to Belgium later this month. New Hall School hosted a small group of Belgian students for a Sixth Form experience in January 2026 but the Community Festival was the first major collaboration between the two schools since the choirs of New Hall School and Heilig Graf held a joint concert in 2014 in New Hall’s Chapel.
Principal Mrs Katherine Jeffrey said the festival reflected New Hall’s commitment to celebrating its Catholic heritage and building links with Holy Sepulchre communities around the world, including those in Belgium, Spain and Rwanda.
