A SPECIALLY-CREATED icon of Saint Columba was presented to a Fareham academy at a celebration service led by the bishop.

Jane Hoggarth, principal of St Columba Academy, the Rev Ruth Tuschling, diocesan spirituality adviser, and Bishop Christopher with the icon of Saint Columba.

Pupils, staff, parents and governors from St Columba Academy packed the nearby St Columba’s Church for the service, which brought together the Fareham community to mark the new era for the school. It is the only C of E-sponsored primary academy in the Diocese of Portsmouth.

The Bishop of Portsmouth, the Rt Rev Christopher Foster, who officially opened the new academy last September, helped to lead the service. He also blessed the icon, which was created for the school by diocesan spirituality adviser the Rev Ruth Tuschling.

The icon, which is a religious portrait used in worship, will be hung in the hall of the academy to help pupils remember the saint after which the academy is named. Saint Columba (521-597AD) was an Irish missionary who helped bring Christianity to Scotland.

Representatives from the Fareham community, including the Lord Lieutenant of Hampshire, Dame Mary Fagan: Fareham mayor Dennis Steadman; council leader Sean Woodward; and Fareham MP Mark Hoban all attended the service at St Columba’s Church on Hillson Drive.

The Rev Sally Davenport, priest-in-charge of Holy Trinity with St Columba, Fareham said: “We meet in this church named after Saint Columba to celebrate the new academy, which bears his name. This church, the parish of Holy Trinity with St Columba, and our academy serve the people of this community in the name of Jesus Christ.

“In this service we remind ourselves of God’s love for all people and that we must love others with his love.”

The service included a dramatised piece showing the Biblical story of how Samuel was called by God. This was performed by the Open the Book team, which regularly leads assemblies at the academy.

Bishop Christopher told the service that the story was about God’s hopes for everyone, young and old.

“Samuel was being prepared for his life in the community, not just in his own family, school or where he lived, but in the whole community,” he said.

“He grew, developed and experienced God with the help of other people. That really is what we are here today to celebrate, how we can help each other so we grow up, learn, develop and make a contribution to the community and life of where we live and where we belong.

“We are here to celebrate a God-given opportunity for our children and to thank God for everyone who has been involved with it.

“We have come together to pledge ourselves to be like Samuel, to listen to where God is leading us and to follow where he wants us to be. Each one of us is God’s gift to our community.”

The service included three worship songs, including a special academy version of ‘Come and join the celebration’. It ended with prayers, including three written and read out by pupils themselves. Afterwards, guests went back to the school for tours of the building.

St Columba Academy, in Tewkesbury Avenue, was known as Oak Meadow C of E Primary School until September 2012. Its links with St Columba Church means that pupils visit the church termly for special services, and worshippers from the church help to lead worship at the academy.