The Old Girls' Chapel
You could be forgiven for thinking the Chapel has been around as long as the College, it fits in with its surroundings so seamlessly. But the truth is our Chapel is only 14 years old.
In 1992, the St Cuthbert’s College Old Girls’ Association decided to commemorate their 75th anniversary by starting an appeal for a chapel, and after “selling” the idea to the Trust Board the fundraising began.
The Chapel Appeal target was set at $350,000 and the campaign started off with an afternoon of music and socialising. The chairwoman of the Old Girls’ Appeal Committee took the afternoon as a chance to explain why the Chapel would be an important part of College life.
“Today we are surrounded by insecurity, concern for the future and pressures which are new to many of us. Our girls and young women must face situations which were not known to us. I unashamedly ask you all to give to our Chapel Appeal so that we may provide a haven in the midst of our busy world, where our girls may find strength and inspiration to develop their full potential as the women of tomorrow.”
The Chapel Appeal was a great success and after only six short months of building, the College Chapel was opened on the 25th of November 1993. Five days later the Reverend Gaye Churchill was appointed by the Trust Board as the founding Chaplain. Her role was to give guidance to staff, students and parents. She did this with great ambition and soon the students warmed to her giving her the nick-name “The Rev”. Gaye’s 13 year tenure came to an end in 2006 when she decided to head south to Nelson for retirement.
Our present Chaplain, the Reverend Carolin Telford, who came to us after a long stint working throughout Europe, has settled well into the College way of life and intends to make sure the By Love Serve axiom stands strong within the College.
Over the years the Chapel has played host to many baptisms, weddings and funerals and has proven to be an important foundation within the St Cuthbert’s College community.
Today the Chapel is as it was promised it would be “A haven in the midst of our busy world, where our girls may find strength and inspiration to develop their full potential as the women of tomorrow.”
Chapel Details
Architects
Sinclair Group Architects
Contractor
MacRennie Construction
Exterior
Hinuera Stone Blocks, Slate Roof
Interior
Cream plastered walls with extensive use of rimu for the roof, walls and furniture.
Windows
The two rose windows at the western and eastern end of the Chapel depict the College Badge. The six lancet windows represent the six houses of the College, Dunblane, Elgin, Iona, Kelso, Lindisfarne and Melrose. Beverley Shore-Bennett has used the Lindisfarne Gospels to develop a theme for each window. The two other rose windows will not be stained glass as they allow light to enter the Chapel. These feature the School Badge and the Old Girls' Badge.
Furniture
Pews, Choir stalls, Communion Table, flower stands and ancillary furniture all designed by Humphrey Ikin.
Carpet
Custom woven for the Chapel to incorporate School Badge
Organ
Yamaha EL90 Electric Organ
Seating Capacity
220 excluding the choir stalls
Garden Designers
Judy Laity and Liz Morrow
Use of the Chapel
Marriage and Baptism services can be conducted in the Chapel for members of the Old Girls’ Association. Bookings can be made through the College Chaplain