Welcome to SOGA

Home to the former pupils
of St Mary’s Shaftesbury

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Relaunched in 2020

For the community of St Mary’s School Shaftesbury

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A note from the Chair

Welcome to the newly launched SOGA, which we hope will help you reconnect with friends old and new.

When the news was confirmed in July 2020 that the School - a provider of first-class Catholic education for girls for the last 75 years - would close, there was a huge feeling of shock and sadness.

Those of us who had been involved in the original SOGA, and several more former pupils since, decided to resurrect the Association. The new committee now includes former staff, parents and girls.

We have ambitious plans and have no doubt that, as Mary Ward famously said: ‘Ther is no such difference between men and weomen that weomen may not doe great matters, as we have seen by example of many Saints who have done great things: and I hope in God it will be seene that weomen in tyme to come will doe much’.

Corinne Gibbons

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Mission Statement

“Let your love at all times be rooted in God and then remain faithful to your friends” Mary Ward.

 

Connection

To maintain and foster connections among Alumnae.

Support

To provide and support a mentoring network for Alumnae.

News & Events

To share Alumnae news, information and arrange events.

Christianity

To reinforce Christian values in the community.

SOGA 2021

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Get Back in Touch

We’d love to hear from you if you wish to learn more about the SOGA network and activities.

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News & Events

For the latest information on forthcoming news and updates, sign-up below.

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Become a Member

Find out about the benefits of becoming a Member of the St Mary’s Old Girls Association.

“The most precious gift St.Mary’s Shaftesbury has is its soul. It isn’t something you can buy, like buildings - it’s just an ethos that exists… in every girl who comes here.”

Memories of the summer term, Rhododendrons in full bloom along the drive and on the front lawn
April showers ☔️🌦
"Dear sisters and dear friends in the Lord. The war is unfortunately still going on in our country. In Transcarpathia, although we have peace, we have had several alarms and have had to be kept in the cellar. We are continuing the service we ca
"Dear sisters and friends, we are living the fourteenth day of war", wrote CJ Sisters Kristína, Marietta, Xénia Agnesa, Diana and Villana from Western Ukraine this morning. "We are doing our best to relieve the pain
On BBC Radio 4 woman’s hour today, Sister Jane Livesey ( Sister Campion) talks about Mary Ward.
May your days be merry and bright ✨ Warmest wishes for a happy Christmas from your friends and contemporaries at SOGA - we look forward to seeing you all in 2022.
This most charming of paintings, intimately captured by @elizabethshieldsartist (class of 2005), is just one example of the old girls offering their time and talent to the St Mary's community. If you have not yet signed up to be a member of SOGA on
St Nicholas night - naughty or nice, don’t forget to put out your slippers ladies!
In 1886, the late Mark Beaufoy, having settled near Shaftesbury, built himself a private mansion. He called it Coombe House as it overlooked two valleys. The green sandstone came from the estate and the house was lit with electricity powered from the
"We wore 70s inspired summer dresses made of transparent cotton in crossing lines of mustard, brown and yellow cinched in by our brown purse belts and made more modest with the wearing of our brown knickers. We drew our chosen wildflower... and
The 10 Year Reunion of the 2011 St Mary’s School leavers took place @fentimanarms in London recently. It was organised by #hennybaxter… & @eloiseturton sent us these great photos of what looked like a really fun & happy catch-up
In the last Head Girl's Speech that St Mary’s would ever see (delivered, for the first time, via Zoom), @cassia_thackray ended with the Dr Seuss line: "Do not cry because it's over, smile because it happened". Despite the sad fate tha