New Chaplain 

Our school community attended a wonderfully uplifting service as Rev’d Mumford was officially installed as our new chaplain, with the Rt Rev’d Martin Seeley, Bishop of St Edmundsbury and Ipswich, officiating the licensing service.  

Pupils will already know Rev’d Mumford as she has had teaching and pastoral duties at the school since September and is already providing a fresh approach to worship and chaplaincy in the school community.  

Rev’d Mumford comments on how she felt during her licensing service: “As soon as the first hymn began and I heard the Holbrook Sound my spirits were lifted, my nervousness dissipated and I was excited. I felt a great sense of pride and honour in taking up the role and making my declarations in front of the Bishop and RHS community. Being able to celebrate with pupils, parents and staff was a joy and I am very grateful for the support that they have all shown me.”    

Find out a bit more about our new chaplain below: 

Rev’d Mumford was born in Germany, as her father was an army officer, but has spent more of her adult life living in East Anglia, mainly residing in Cambridge and Bury St Edmunds.  

Before working at RHS, Laura was a head of department teaching Religious Studies at Birchwood High School. After training as an assistant curate at St Mary's Church, Bury St Edmunds, she became Chaplain to the University Royal Navy Unit in Cambridge.    

Rev’d Mumford was inspired to become a chaplain as she has always felt called to priestly ministry. She enjoys helping others learn and understand new concepts. She loves the creativity involved when working in a school and helping pupils discover their own faith and sense of spirituality.  

We asked Rev’d Mumford how her first few months have been at RHS; she commented, “It has been a steep learning curve with many new things to get my head around, particularly the RHS language - divisions, mess, a gidge, back house, etc. I have enjoyed being back in the classroom and getting to know the pupils, including challenging a few to table football games in their houses!” 

Rev’d Mumford’s aim as Chaplain is “to develop an inclusive and welcoming chapel community that will enrich the spiritual wellbeing of all pupils and staff.”