CATHEDRAL GRAMMAR SCHOOL CELEBRATES 75th BIRTHDAY

Press, Volume XCIII, Issue 27988, 7 June 1956, Page 10

CATHEDRAL GRAMMAR SCHOOL CELEBRATES 75th BIRTHDAY

The Cathedral Grammar School, which was opened in 1881. for the education of boys in the Christchurch Cathedral choir, this week-end will celebrate the seventy-fifth anniversary of its foundation.

The school began as a preparatory institution with a roll of eight choristers; later it became a lower department of Christ’s College: then it resumed its own identity as the Cathedral Grammar School with a secondary department; and now it is again a preparatory school, with a roll of 200. including 24 choristers and 30 boarders. i

The pattern of this school is designed to give choristers, who are very busy pupils, a full educational, recreational, and cultural life. It is one of the very few choir schools outside England, where the history of such schools goes back to the time of St. Augustine. Most of the members of the school board of governors are appointed by the Cathedral Chapter, and the chairman is the Dean of Christchurch (the Very Rev. Martin Sulliva.nV Th e school stands on its original site at the corner of Park terrace and Chester street. At one stage the school grounds extended east to Cranmer square. Many prominent men associated with the Anglican Church, education, and music have had their influence on the school. Dean Jacobs, who had helped to establish Christ’s College, was an invaluable friend adviser to the first headmaster Cathedral Grammar School 'Mr G. H. Merton). Sports Activities From the outset, sports were popular at the school. For swimming in the early days the boys were taken two or three times a week to the ‘bathing place” in Hagley Park, and frequently to Bell’s baths at Sumner. Field games were played on “a 7 level piece of ground” in the park. This ground is now Victoria Lake. It was quite satisfactory for football, but was an indifferent cricket'ground, according to old records.

The Cathedral Grammar School was probably the first school in New Zealand in which music was made an integral part of each pupil’s life.

In 1895, when the school was not paying its way, the Cathedral Chapter arranged for the governing body of Christ’s Colege to take over the education of choristers, and the school became a lower department ot the college. Mr Merton accepted the position as chief master of the department. After nearly 30 years as Lower

Christ’s College, the school regained its own identity, and was re-estab-lished by the chapter as a primary and secondary school in 1923. The Rev. Stephen Parr was appointed headmaster, with a roll of 34 boys. By hard work and outstanding example, Mr Parr built up the fine | reputation that the school still enjoys, i After Mr Parr was appointed principal of College House, a minister from England was appointed headmaster of the school. He was the Rev. E. E. Edmonds, who stayed only a short time. Next came the Rev. G. M. McKenzie, who had been on the teaching staff of the school, and is now an archdeacon in the Diocese of Wellington. Mr C. Foster Browne, the present organist and choirmaster of the Christchurch Cathedral, succeeded Mr McKenzie. Messrs H. A. Insull and R. R. Gibson, an old boy of the school, were later headmasters. During Mr Gibson’s headmastership, the secondary department was closed and Cathedral Grammar became a preparatory school again. This was important for choristers, because it meant that senior boys were senior pupils, and able to take their full share of responsibility in the school. Mr L. S. Hart is the present principal.

Many well-known names appear on old rolls of the school, including that of Sir Charles Statham, a former Speaker of the House of Representatives. Captain J. F. Crawford, of Riccarton, was one of the original pupils. Mr G. T. Weston, of Christchurch, and his brother, the late Mr Claude Weston, K.C., and Dr. J. Restell Thomas received their early education at the Cathedral Grammar School. Lieutenant-Commander W. J. L. Smith, a member of the New Zealand Antarctic expedition, is also an old boy of the school. Because the Cathedral Grammar School has been a preparatory school for most of its existence, its old boys’ association is not a big one. but its members are very active in their support of the school. Tomorrow morning, the president of the association (Mr G. C. C. Sandston) will give a talk on the history of the school to present pupils. On Saturday evening, the association will hold a jubilee sherry party at the school, after which guests have been invited to a cabaret or picture party. Former and present pupils of the school will attend matins in the Cathedral on Sunday, when the Bishop of Christchurch (the Rt. Rev. A. K. Warren) will preach. The president of the old boys’ association anu the headmaster of the school will read the lessons.