St Paul's Cathedral School
Encyclopedia
St. Paul's Cathedral School is a school associated with St Paul's Cathedral
in London
and is located in New Change in the City of London
.
The School has around 220 pupils, most of whom are day pupils, both boys and girls, including up to 40 boy choristers who are all boarders
and who singing the daily services in St Paul's Cathedral.. The School became co-educational in 2002.
Originally the School was set up to provide education solely for the Choristers and dates from about 1123, when 8 needy children were given a home and education in return for singing in the Cathedral. The Choir School and a Grammar School
co-existed under the aegis of the Cathedral for many years, until the Grammar School was moved and re-established in 1511 by the humanist Dean John Colet
to become Saint Paul's School. The Cathedral School and the Grammar School are now distinct and separate institutions.
The original Choir School, which stood in St Paul's Churchyard, was destroyed with the Cathedral in the Great Fire of London
in 1666. The School has had several incarnations being re-built in 1670, in 1822 (in Cheapside) and 1887 (in Carter Lane). The current buildings dates from the 1960s.
In addition to the daily Evensong, the choristers of St. Paul's Cathedral, have taken part in a number of important recording and tours and they have performed at a number of important state occasions, including Winston Churchill
's funeral and the wedding of Prince Charles
and Diana, Princess of Wales
.
Det Supt Jeff Davies, who led the City of London Police team investigating the offences, said: “This was a difficult and sensitive investigation for the officers involved. I hope the conclusion of the case will go some way to helping those who have suffered as a result of the abuse they endured more than 20 years ago.”
Judge Michael Gledhill QC labelled Douglas-Hogg a "paedophile" who used his authority to strike fear into his victims, who were too afraid to report what happened. He said Douglas-Hogg showed no remorse and added: "You should be a broken man; regrettably, I have serious doubts as to whether or not you actually are."
St Paul's Cathedral
St Paul's Cathedral, London, is a Church of England cathedral and seat of the Bishop of London. Its dedication to Paul the Apostle dates back to the original church on this site, founded in AD 604. St Paul's sits at the top of Ludgate Hill, the highest point in the City of London, and is the mother...
in London
London
London is the capital city of :England and the :United Kingdom, the largest metropolitan area in the United Kingdom, and the largest urban zone in the European Union by most measures. Located on the River Thames, London has been a major settlement for two millennia, its history going back to its...
and is located in New Change in the City of London
City of London
The City of London is a small area within Greater London, England. It is the historic core of London around which the modern conurbation grew and has held city status since time immemorial. The City’s boundaries have remained almost unchanged since the Middle Ages, and it is now only a tiny part of...
.
The School has around 220 pupils, most of whom are day pupils, both boys and girls, including up to 40 boy choristers who are all boarders
Boarding school
A boarding school is a school where some or all pupils study and live during the school year with their fellow students and possibly teachers and/or administrators. The word 'boarding' is used in the sense of "bed and board," i.e., lodging and meals...
and who singing the daily services in St Paul's Cathedral.. The School became co-educational in 2002.
Originally the School was set up to provide education solely for the Choristers and dates from about 1123, when 8 needy children were given a home and education in return for singing in the Cathedral. The Choir School and a Grammar School
Grammar school
A grammar school is one of several different types of school in the history of education in the United Kingdom and some other English-speaking countries, originally a school teaching classical languages but more recently an academically-oriented secondary school.The original purpose of mediaeval...
co-existed under the aegis of the Cathedral for many years, until the Grammar School was moved and re-established in 1511 by the humanist Dean John Colet
John Colet
John Colet was an English churchman and educational pioneer.Colet was an English scholar, Renaissance humanist, theologian, and Dean of St. Paul’s Cathedral, London. Colet wanted people to see the scripture as their guide through life. Furthermore, he wanted to restore theology and rejuvenate...
to become Saint Paul's School. The Cathedral School and the Grammar School are now distinct and separate institutions.
The original Choir School, which stood in St Paul's Churchyard, was destroyed with the Cathedral in the Great Fire of London
Great Fire of London
The Great Fire of London was a major conflagration that swept through the central parts of the English city of London, from Sunday, 2 September to Wednesday, 5 September 1666. The fire gutted the medieval City of London inside the old Roman City Wall...
in 1666. The School has had several incarnations being re-built in 1670, in 1822 (in Cheapside) and 1887 (in Carter Lane). The current buildings dates from the 1960s.
In addition to the daily Evensong, the choristers of St. Paul's Cathedral, have taken part in a number of important recording and tours and they have performed at a number of important state occasions, including Winston Churchill
Winston Churchill
Sir Winston Leonard Spencer-Churchill, was a predominantly Conservative British politician and statesman known for his leadership of the United Kingdom during the Second World War. He is widely regarded as one of the greatest wartime leaders of the century and served as Prime Minister twice...
's funeral and the wedding of Prince Charles
Charles, Prince of Wales
Prince Charles, Prince of Wales is the heir apparent and eldest son of Queen Elizabeth II and Prince Philip, Duke of Edinburgh. Since 1958 his major title has been His Royal Highness The Prince of Wales. In Scotland he is additionally known as The Duke of Rothesay...
and Diana, Princess of Wales
Diana, Princess of Wales
Diana, Princess of Wales was the first wife of Charles, Prince of Wales, whom she married on 29 July 1981, and an international charity and fundraising figure, as well as a preeminent celebrity of the late 20th century...
.
Former pupils
Notable former pupils include:- Jonathan BattishillJonathan BattishillJonathan Battishill was an English composer, keyboard player, and concert tenor. He began his career as a composer writing theatre music but later devoted himself to working as an organist and composer for the Church of England...
, composer - Simon Russell BealeSimon Russell BealeSimon Russell Beale, CBE is an English actor. He has been described by The Independent as "the greatest stage actor of his generation."-Early years:...
, actor - William Boyce, composer
- Alastair CookAlastair CookAlastair Nathan Cook, MBE is an English international cricket player. He is a left-handed opening batsman who plays county cricket for Essex and International cricket for England, where he is their ODI captain. Cook played for Essex's Academy and made his debut for the first XI in 2003...
, cricketer - William CummingsWilliam Hayman CummingsWilliam Hayman Cummings , born in Sidbury in Devon, was an English musician, tenor and organist at Waltham Abbey....
, musician and organist - Jimmy EdwardsJimmy EdwardsJimmy Edwards DFC was an English comedic script writer and comedy actor on both radio and television, best known as Pa Glum in Take It From Here and as the headmaster 'Professor' James Edwards in Whack-O!-Biography:...
, script writer and actor - Maurice GreeneMaurice Greene (composer)Maurice Greene was an English composer and organist.- Biography :Born in London, the son of a clergyman, Greene became a choirboy at St Paul's Cathedral under Jeremiah Clarke and Charles King...
, composer - Charles GrovesCharles GrovesSir Charles Barnard Groves CBE was an English conductor. He was known for the breadth of his repertoire and for encouraging contemporary composers and young conductors....
, orchestral conductor - Robin HollowayRobin HollowayRobin Greville Holloway is an English composer.-Early life:From 1952 to 1957, he was a chorister at St Paul's Cathedral...
, composer - Neil HowlettNeil HowlettNeil Howlett is a retired English operatic baritone who has sung leading roles in major opera houses and festivals in the UK and abroad, including the Royal Opera House, Teatro Colón, and the English National Opera, where he was the Principal Baritone for seventeen years...
, opera singer - James LancelotJames LancelotJames Bennett Lancelot is currently Master of the Choristers and Cathedral Organist at Durham Cathedral, a position he has held since 1985....
, organist - Walter de la MareWalter de la MareWalter John de la Mare , OM CH was an English poet, short story writer and novelist, probably best remembered for his works for children and the poem "The Listeners"....
, poet and novelist - Stephen Oliver, composer
- Julian OvendenJulian OvendenJulian Ovenden is an English stage, television and film actor and singer. He is one of three children of Canon John Ovenden, chaplain to Queen Elizabeth II....
, actor and singer - Peter PhilipsPeter PhilipsPeter Philips was an eminent English composer, organist, and Catholic priest exiled to Flanders...
, composer and organist - Percy SillitoePercy SillitoeSir Percy Joseph Sillitoe KBE was Director General of MI5, the United Kingdom's internal security service, from 1946 to 1953...
, policeman, Director General of MI5 1946-1953 - John StainerJohn StainerSir John Stainer was an English composer and organist whose music, though not generally much performed today , was very popular during his lifetime...
, composer and organist - Anthony WayAnthony WayAnthony Way is an English chorister and classical singer who shot to fame after appearing as a chorister in a BBC TV series. He has since had success as a recording artist, with gold and platinum discs to his credit.-Biography:...
, chorister and classical singer - Nicholas ParsonsNicholas ParsonsNicholas Parsons OBE is a British actor and radio and television presenter.-Early life:...
, actor and presenter
Child-abuse controversy
In December 2007 Stephen Douglas-Hogg, a former Classics and house master of the school, was arrested and charged with the abuse of a number of choristers during the 1980s. Following his attempted suicide during the initial stages of proceedings in October 2008, the 50-year-old Douglas-Hogg changed his plea halfway through the trial and admitted to 13 counts of indecent assault on five boys aged under 14. On 11 May 2009 Douglas-Hogg was sentenced to 4 and a half years imprisonment at Southwark Crown Court.Det Supt Jeff Davies, who led the City of London Police team investigating the offences, said: “This was a difficult and sensitive investigation for the officers involved. I hope the conclusion of the case will go some way to helping those who have suffered as a result of the abuse they endured more than 20 years ago.”
Judge Michael Gledhill QC labelled Douglas-Hogg a "paedophile" who used his authority to strike fear into his victims, who were too afraid to report what happened. He said Douglas-Hogg showed no remorse and added: "You should be a broken man; regrettably, I have serious doubts as to whether or not you actually are."