Guildford Grammar School Chapel
Encyclopedia
The Guildford Grammar School Chapel usually known as the Chapel of St. Mary and St. George is a Heritage Listed building situated on Terrace Road, East Guildford
and is used and owned by Guildford Grammar School
.
. Many skilled tradesmen helped in the completion of the building, including some who were employed from the United Kingdom.
The Chapel of St. Mary and St. George was built during the headmastership of Canon Percy Umphreyville Henn
, who sought funds for its construction immediately after his appointment in 1909.
He found a generous benefactor in Englishman Cecil Oliverson who paid for the full cost of the building. It was consecrated in 1914
It was constructed from Donnybrook stone with interior woodwork of English Oak. He also donated the large gold-leaf rerados above the alter.
help fairly frequently. Funerals occur rarely. Special services are arranged to celebrate such events as Palm Sunday, Easter and Christmas.
, near Pinjarra. The Navy painted two red crosses on the Chapel roof, one on each side of the slope. When the school population resumed residence in 1943 the Australian Army offered to replace the painted tiles but school authorities decided that it would be better to paint over the crosses with tile-coloured paint. Today that paint has almost worn off so once again the crosses are visible as a sign of GGS's contribution to the war.
of October 1968 damaged the central bell tower on the roof - and other damage occurred at that time as well.
A bible, gifted to the School by King George V of England, was destroyed in a fire in the Sacristy fire in 1980. Her Majesty Queen Elizabeth II graciously provided a replacement.
, and the Battye Library in Western Australia have significant collections of photographs of the chapel.
Guildford, Western Australia
Guildford is a suburb of Perth, Western Australia, located 13 km northeast of the city. Its Local Government Area is the City of Swan.-History:Guildford was established in 1829 on the Swan River, being sited near a permanent fresh water supply...
and is used and owned by Guildford Grammar School
Guildford Grammar School
Guildford Grammar School, informally known as Guildford Grammar, Guildford or GGS, is an independent, day and boarding school for boys situated in Guildford, a suburb of Perth, Western Australia....
.
Architectural value
Guildford Grammar School's Chapel is one of the three latest Revival styles in Australia - the Gothic Perpendicular Revival It was designed in 1912 by English architect Sir Walter TapperWalter Tapper
Sir Walter Tapper was a British architect known for Gothic Revivalist architecture. On his death in 1935 his son Michael Tapper completed some of his works....
. Many skilled tradesmen helped in the completion of the building, including some who were employed from the United Kingdom.
History
Percy Henn
Reverend Canon Percy Umfreville Henn was a clergyman and teacher in England and later Western Australia. He is best known for his time as Headmaster at Guildford Grammar School and later for the building of the Chapel of SS...
, who sought funds for its construction immediately after his appointment in 1909.
He found a generous benefactor in Englishman Cecil Oliverson who paid for the full cost of the building. It was consecrated in 1914
It was constructed from Donnybrook stone with interior woodwork of English Oak. He also donated the large gold-leaf rerados above the alter.
Services
During the school's academic year the Chapel is in daily use for services and congregational singing practices for the students. Boarders and some members of the school community attend the Sunday services. Marriages are celebrated almost every week while Baptisms, Introductions to Holy Communion and Confirmations arehelp fairly frequently. Funerals occur rarely. Special services are arranged to celebrate such events as Palm Sunday, Easter and Christmas.
World War II
During the second World War Guildford Grammar School was commandeered by the United States Navy for use as a hospital. During their three months' occupation the students were evacuated to FairbridgeKingsley Fairbridge
Kingsley Ogilvie Fairbridge was the founder of a child emigration scheme to British colonies and the Fairbridge Schools...
, near Pinjarra. The Navy painted two red crosses on the Chapel roof, one on each side of the slope. When the school population resumed residence in 1943 the Australian Army offered to replace the painted tiles but school authorities decided that it would be better to paint over the crosses with tile-coloured paint. Today that paint has almost worn off so once again the crosses are visible as a sign of GGS's contribution to the war.
Damage
The Meckering EarthquakeMeckering, Western Australia
Meckering is a town 130 km east of Perth, Western Australia along the Great Eastern Highway. Meckering is located within the Shire of Cunderdin.A railway line was completed in the area in 1895 and Meckering was selected as a station site...
of October 1968 damaged the central bell tower on the roof - and other damage occurred at that time as well.
A bible, gifted to the School by King George V of England, was destroyed in a fire in the Sacristy fire in 1980. Her Majesty Queen Elizabeth II graciously provided a replacement.
Photographs
The chapel has attracted significant numbers of photographers since its construction - due to its unique construction. The result is that the National Library of AustraliaNational Library of Australia
The National Library of Australia is the largest reference library of Australia, responsible under the terms of the National Library Act for "maintaining and developing a national collection of library material, including a comprehensive collection of library material relating to Australia and the...
, and the Battye Library in Western Australia have significant collections of photographs of the chapel.
Further reading
- Aikman, Robert Gordon. and Honniball, John Herbert Melville (1962) The chapel of SS. Mary and George, Guildford Grammar School : a history. Perth : Council of Guilford Grammar School.
- Guildford Grammar School Chapel - history Forward (Guildford Grammar School), Sept. 1989, p. 1,3