History of the College

The College opened in 1915 when a group of Presbyterian fathers bought Mt Eden Collegiate, a private school for girls, and appointed Miss Isobel Macdonald as the first Principal. Miss Macdonald renamed the school St Cuthbert's College and chose the motto, "By Love Serve". Since 1918 the College has celebrated St Cuthbert's Day annually in March.

The College moved to the present site in Market Road, Epsom, Auckland, in 1925 and the development of superb facilities began.

In 1932 three school houses were established - Dunblane, Elgin and Melrose - named after places of significance in the life of St Cuthbert.

In 1935, the College's signature Black Watch tartan was introduced.

The College has proud traditions of encouraging students to strive for excellence in all they do, of innovative programmes and of encouraging young women to contribute to their community.

The College continues to develop superb facilities in attractive grounds. It is an environment which enables all students to achieve their full potential.

How the College Was Named

Originally the Auckland Presbyterian College for Ladies Ltd, St Cuthbert’s College was renamed by the first Principal, Miss Isobel MacDonald, partly because the Trust Board recognised a shorter and more distinctive name was required.

St Cuthbert’s Weekend was first celebrated in 1918. It has since become an annual celebration on the nearest weekend to March 20. Students at all levels attend church services and in recent years, Old Girls have returned to the College for a service in the Old Girls’ Chapel, their AGM, decade reunions and Club 50 reunions.

In 1987, on the thirteen hundredth anniversary of the death of St Cuthbert, Principal Miss Joan Holland led a pilgrimage of staff and students to Scotland. The group visited monasteries, abbeys and places of significance in the life of St Cuthbert. The school houses - Dunblane, Elgin and Melrose, Iona, Kelso and Lindisfarne -are named after those places.

Prayer for the Thirteen Hundredth Anniversary

Open our eyes, Lord, to see your glory;
Open our ears, Lord, to hear your call;
Open our lips, Lord, to sing your praises.
Then guide us on our pilgrimage of faith,
that with the memory of Cuthbert in our minds,
and the spirit of Cuthbert in our hearts,
we may walk with him who is
the Way, the Truth and the Life,
and find our freedom in his service;
even our Lord and Saviour,
JESUS CHRIST.