Wednesday, January 29, 2020

Bishop-Elect Haynes visits Chatham Hall


The Episcopal Diocese of Southern Virginia will consecrate Rev. Susan Bunton Haynes as the 11th bishop of the Diocese on February 1, 2020 in Williamsburg, Virginia. Just before this historic occasion, Rev. Haynes made a trip to Chatham Hall school to meet current students, tour campus, and participate in a chapel service on January 19. Established in 1894, Chatham Hall was founded as the first girls' Episcopal school in Southern Virginia.

When she described her visit, Rev. Haynes noted how impressed she was with Chatham Hall and how much she is looking forward to connecting with students and faculty in the future. "I was hoping my tour guides would be students. They talked about how Chatham Hall is a place that prepares girls to be leaders. All I could think about as they spoke was that I can already see that they are leaders. If that is the kind of girl Chatham Hall is striving for, it's truly doing well." 
 
When Rev. Haynes reflected on her experience celebrating with the community for Martin Luther King, Jr. Day, she expressed how moving it was. "I know students crafted the service. The readings were powerful, and the students were very well engaged. I could tell that justice is an important value for them and this community."