HOUSE COMMUNITY

Each house serves as a family of students within the broader school community.

Houses allow for deeper connections and friendships to be forged.

Wilberforce’s “House” Community begins in Middle School (6th-12th grades) and is divided into four houses. Each house is named after a significant member of the Clapham Sect, those individuals associated with William Wilberforce in his great works. The purpose of the house community is to build a culture of leadership, service, mentorship, and joy. The House Community offers opportunities to strengthen relationships across all middle and upper school grades. Click the house flag to learn about each house's namesake and unique traditions. 

House Activities

Tournament
Games & Competition focuses on developing a unified, enjoyable, and encouraging school community through various athletic games and activities.Every Friday, students in grades 6-12 work together in competition with the younger students getting the opportunity to spend time with the older students and the older students getting opportunities to lead and care for those younger than them.  Games of all sorts are played to excite students with various interests and skills.  While there are many physical games such as capture the flag or bubble-suit sumo wrestling, Tournament also includes art contests, Family Feud, aluminum-foil costume competitions, lip sync competitions, and many others that help unite students across the grades to work together for a common goal.  
Build
School Service & Culture Building strives to challenge students to develop a character of service that focuses on the school community and the school building itself. "Build" leads Christian service, prayer, and Scripture study within the school to create a God-fearing environment.  The "Build" aspect of House also shapes hearts to desire to make the physical environment of the school a beautiful experience for those who use it. Build may also include school events, such as sports games, dances, musicals, theatricals, and traditions. Each House forms groups that plan, manage, or aid these events.
Serve
Service looks to the local and global community. "Service" seeks to develop the habit of service to the community outside of the school. This may entail, but is not limited to, service at a local church, raising funds for missionaries or charities, working in a soup kitchen, and other service-related events. Each House will plan out service opportunities throughout the year.

Venn House

John Venn (1759–1813) was a priest of the Church of England and a central figure of the Clapham sect. One of the original founders of the Church Missionary Society in 1797, Venn was a leading abolitionist and philanthropist. John Venn’s preaching greatly influenced Henry Thornton in the formation of the Clapham Sect. Venn’s grandson, also named John, was famous for introducing the Venn diagram.

Oh give thanks to the Lord, for he is good, for his steadfast love endures forever! Psalm 107:1

More House

Hannah More (1745 – 1833) was an English writer, educator, and philanthropist. She worked closely with both William Wilberforce and Zachary Macaulay. She was instrumental in setting up twelve schools where underprivileged children learned reading, the Bible, and the catechism.

For God did not give us a spirit of fear, but of power and of love and of self-control. 2 Timothy 1:7

Thornton House

Marianne Sykes Thornton (1765-1815) was the wife of Henry Thornton, a prominent member of the Clapham sect and parliamentarian. She played an important role in helping Henry Thornton’s campaign of 1802 and supported the abolition of the slave trade by hosting a number of social events to further the cause. Thornton’s great grandson, novelist E.M. Forster described her as the “moon to Mr. Thornton’s sun.”

For you were called to freedom, brothers. Only do not use your freedom as an opportunity for the flesh, but through love serve one another. Galatians 5:13

Macaulay House

Zachary Macaulay (1768 – 1838) became a member of the Society for the Abolition of the Slave Trade, worked closely with William Wilberforce, and helped lead the parliamentary campaign against the slave trade. He later became secretary of the Society, which was also called the African Institution. Macaulay was one of the founders both of London University and of the Society for the Suppression of Vice. He also served as governor of Sierra Leone, the British colony for freed slaves.

“Be kind to one another, tenderhearted, forgiving one another, as God in Christ forgave you.” Ephesians 4:32