Pupils and staff at St Aidan’s Technology College were joined by a special guest as the school continued to celebrate its golden jubilee.
Visiting the Preesall high school was the Rt Rev Julian Henderson, the Bishop of Blackburn, who was in school to help celebrate 50 years of serving the local community.
Bishop Julian was first given a special tour of the school by head boy Ben Boyd and head girl Millie Shepherd.
Then the whole school came together with specially-invited guests for a service of thanksgiving led by the Bishop.
Among the guests were Mayor and Mayoress of Wyre, Coun and Mrs John Hodgkinson, several school governors, local clergy and former staff members.
During the service, the school presented the Bishop with a beautiful cross that had been made especially for him by students from the pottery club, assisted by local potters Jim and Dylan Cross from Pilling Pottery.
The weather certainly helped the big occasion, with a bright sunny day showing the school and its grounds off at their best.
The Bishop was impressed with the lively young minds at the school after he faced a grilling by members of the school’s media club.
Interviewers Destiny Acton and Rebecca Davison asked the Bishop a number of questions while Hannah Williams and Andrew Wilson filmed the interview as part of their report for News School Report Day.
The Bishop’s final duty of the morning was to bless the new chapel, a place of worship and contemplation open to all members of the school.
A student representative from each form group was present in the chapel, along with several of the guests, and school chaplain Markus Geibel.
Markus said: “With the beautiful weather, the great turnout at the Eucharist and the smiling faces I saw everywhere, I can truly say that the singing of the hymn ‘Oh Happy Day’ was not just the singing of another song.
“For me, it was an expression of my feelings.”
Headteacher Andy Smith added: “At St Aidan’s we are really aware of the hard work done by previous staff, students and governors to make the school what it is today.
“So it was wonderful to be able to gather together with Bishop Julian and give thanks – as well as looking forward to another fifty great years.”