Guildford Grammar School Chapel

The Guildford Grammar School Chapel usually known as the Chapel of St. Mary and St. George is a Heritage Listed [ [http://register.heritage.wa.gov.au/viewplace.html?place_seq=2487&offset=0&view=regentries Heritage Council of Western Australia :: Guildford Grammar School Chapel ] ] building situated on Terrace Road, East Guildford and is used and owned by Guildford Grammar School.

Architectural value

Guildford Grammar School's Chapel is one of the three latest Revival styles in Australia - the Gothic Perpendicular Revival [Andrews, Brian (2001) "Australian Gothic : the Gothic revival in Australian architecture from the 1840s to the 1950s" Carlton, Vic. Miegunyah Press. ISBN 0522849318.] It was designed in 1912 by English architect Sir Walter Tapper. Many skilled tradesmen helped in the completion of the building, including some who were employed from the United Kingdom.

History

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. [ "Articles about the gift of the Guildford Grammar School Chapel" in the Midland newspaper the Swan Express - Mar. 1912: Announcement of the gift of the Chapel.Swan express, 22 Mar. 1912, p.6e) ] It was consecrated in 1914 [ ( Swan express, 27 Mar. 1914, p. 5a-b) - Mar. 1914: Consecration of the Chapel.]

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 are help fairly frequently. Funerals occur rarely. Special services are arranged to celebrate such events as Palm Sunday, Easter and Christmas. [http://www.ggs.wa.edu.au/GuildfordGrammar/Senior+School/Anglican+Ethos/ Guildford Grammar School Anglican Ethos] (accessed 2007-03-01)]

World War 2

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 Fairbridge, 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.

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The Meckering Earthquake 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 Australia [ [http://nla.gov.au/nla.pic-vn3807573 Digital Collections - Pictures - Ellis, Nic (Nicolas Howard) 1955- The Chapel of St. Mary and St. George, Guildford Grammar School, Perth, built from Donnybrook stone between 1912 and 1914, Western Australia, 27 September, 1994 [picture ] ] , and the Battye Library [ [http://henrietta.liswa.wa.gov.au/search/c019527PD/c019527pd/-2%2C-1%2C0%2CB/frameset&FF=c019527pd&1%2C1%2C SLWA Online Catalogue /All Locations ] ] in Western Australia have significant collections of photographs of the chapel.

References

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