Moments
in time

Take a journey through the stories, milestones, and memories woven into the buildings and grounds of our college.

Front Field and Driveways

The beautiful front lawn, both old and new driveways, meticulously arranged gardens, trees, and landscaped grounds of St Bede’s College owe much of their charm to the vision of Maurice Dowling, the College’s 5th Rector, though he passed away in 1973. His legacy lives on in the care he took to enhance the grounds’ aesthetics and maintain their quality. In the 40 years since, successive Rectors, caretakers, and gardeners have faithfully preserved his vision.

The Dowling Vision
In the 1973 Bedean, Bill Spillane paid tribute to Dowling’s commitment to the College’s grounds, capturing his vision:
“He arrived to find only a thinly graveled drive and a three-story building rising from the middle of a field. The north wing hadn’t yet been built, and the south wing, Assembly Hall, Brodie Hall, Science Block, and Grimes Hall were all still far off. Yet, from the mid-1920s, these ideas were alive in his mind, he would often tell me of his dreams. Though he wasn’t directly responsible for building any of the structures, he was the heart behind them. The last building he prayed for was the new kitchen and dining hall, now under construction.”

In 1938, following the sealing of the quadrangles, Dowling focused on improving the front lawn, tackling drainage issues, and eventually sealing the driveway. He lined the drive with trees and added rose gardens in front of the old main building.

As one alumnus wrote, “His dedication to the grounds was absolute. In old clothes, heavy boots, weeding gloves, and with his tools, he’d enlist help from boarders, especially the homesick. The traditional look of the grounds truly belonged to one man, Maurice Dowling.”

Changes to the Site
Papanui was initially chosen for the college in part due to its distance from the city center and its space for a self-sustaining farm for the boarding school. However, over time, the city grew around the college, and motorway construction altered its boundaries.

In 1964, the Main North Road was expanded to four lanes, leading to the removal of the original front fence, hedge, and trees. A new fence and plantings opened the College grounds to public view, creating a grand entrance with an impressive view of the three-story building and sweeping lawns.

By 1993, construction of a ring road around the city changed the southern boundary, relocating the entrance to the northern side. Despite these changes, the Board of Proprietors’ foresight in planting new trees and installing a handsome gate preserved the dignity and splendor of the front field.

Old Main Building

Today, only the South Wing (Durham) and a masonry cross remain of the grand three-story building that once stood proudly at the college’s entrance. Although the north wing and central portion are gone, countless Bedeans hold vivid memories – some fond, some less so – of this imposing, brick-clad landmark that once dominated the flat landscape.

Relocating the college from Ferry Road to its current site wasn’t an easy decision. Various options were weighed before the final choice was made in 1914 to acquire 30 acres across from the (then) tram terminus. The founders envisioned a self-supporting residential school for both day students and boarders. The initial land cost was £105 per acre, and the college gradually expanded its holdings to 64 acres over time.

The Foundation Stone
The college’s journey officially began with the laying and blessing of the Foundation Stone on Sunday, 23 February 1919. Bishop Matthew Brodie, along with other prominent figures, marked the occasion, and pledges raised just over £2,000. During the formal opening, Archbishop O’Shea shared prophetic words, saying,

“I hope that from these walls of St Bede’s will go forth, generation after generation, Christian Catholic gentlemen soundly educated in broad and honest principles, prepared to take their part, and a leading part in the building of a great and God-fearing nation.”

The First Building (Opened 1920)
Choosing to build a three-story structure in the ‘English perpendicular Gothic style’ on this sparse landscape was ambitious, as few other buildings were nearby. The founders seemed intent on leaving a lasting mark, symbolizing permanence. Built by William Taylor, this first block opened on 4 February 1920, but much work remained. The original structure housed classrooms, dormitories, a chapel, priests’ quarters, and a dining hall.

The North Wing (Opened 1924)
As the student body grew unexpectedly, the Society of Mary began constructing the north wing in 1923. This addition had been in the original design but was delayed due to costs and post-war material shortages. By the third term of 1924, the north wing was in use, with dormitories for junior students on the top floor, senior dorms on the first, and classrooms, study areas, and an expanded dining room on the ground floor.

The South Wing (Durham – Opened 1956)
Financial challenges during the Great Depression and World War II postponed the South Wing until the 1950s, when enrollment surged. The foundation stone was laid and blessed on 12 September 1954, and the building was fully operational by 1956. The reinforced concrete structure included priest rooms, oratories, a common room, and bathrooms on the upper floors, with the ground floor housing the infirmary, priests’ dining room, and the Procurator’s office.

Demolition
In the late 1970s, Rector Fr Des Darby, SM, received an “earthquake of an announcement.” The Waimairi County Council declared the north and central portions of the building as serious earthquake risks. After careful consideration, the college decided to comply, and on the 29 March 1980, contractors began demolishing the condemned sections. When the rubble was cleared, only the South Wing remained. For many, it marked one of the saddest days in the college’s history.

The Main Quad

At St Bede’s, the Chapel of St Bede serves as the spiritual centre, while the inner quad hums with daily life as students gather around the tuckshop. But it is the Main Quadrangle that holds a unique, formal significance. For more than 70 years, this space was where students lined up for the morning ritual of ‘ranks’ to begin their day together. Beyond its formal role, the Main Quad has always been a lively space, hosting lunchtime games, conversations, and a shared sense of fun. In recent years, it has become the starting point for Year 9 students stepping into their high school journey, as well as the parting place for seniors, who gather here one last time before leaving the college as graduates.

In the Early Years
Before 1938, both the Main and Inner Quads remained unsealed, leaving them dusty in the summer and muddy in the winter – a frequent source of complaints. Financial constraints from the Great Depression delayed sealing the quads, but by the late 1930s, Rector Fr Maurice Dowling initiated a major maintenance project. With the help of caretaker Bert Weir, his horse Duke, and senior students, the quads were levelled and sealed with three layers of bitumen. The 1938 Bedean remarked on the result: “Fewer colds and cleaner corridors.”

Evolution Over Time
Through the years, the Main Quad grew to be the formal heart of St Bede’s. The sealed surface enabled all-weather games – usually involving a tennis ball – and inspired spirited, evolving rules. Various 1st XVs practiced lineouts here, and cadets drilled to commands, echoing across the space. From a second-floor window of the old building, daily notices were read to orderly rows of students: boarders in one line and ‘day-go’s’ in the other, under the watchful eyes of prefects ensuring uniformity.

The routine shifted over the decades. As the old building was demolished, students turned to face notices read from the hall steps. By the 1990s, Marist House construction reduced the Quad’s size, and with the introduction of multilevel form classes, the tradition of ‘ranks’ was retired. Form class took over as the morning routine, yet the Quad remained a place for both arrivals and farewells. New Year 9 students start here, and seniors depart from this space, honored with hakas and, at times, farewells for those leaving on their final journey. The Main Quad continues to be a place of gathering, remembrance, and tradition at the heart of St Bede’s.

The Old Chapel of St Bede

Officially opened by Archbishop Redwood on Sunday 24 November 1929, the Chapel of St Bede was a milestone in the college’s early history. The vision for the chapel came from Fr Tom Gilbert SM, a Kumara-born Marist who had just been appointed Rector after a successful term at St Patrick’s College, Wellington.

A crowd of over 500 attended the opening of the chapel. Tragically, just a year later, Fr Gilbert passed away after falling ill — a great loss to the Marist community and to education. But his legacy lived on in the chapel he helped bring to life.

The Original Building
When Fr Gilbert arrived, the original chapel within the main building had become too small for the growing school. He made the bold decision to convert the school gymnasium, located in the main building’s north wing, into a new chapel.

Its transformation was remarkable: bare brick interior walls were lined with heart rimu panelling, plastered ceilings installed, and the 1.2 metre windows replaced with stained glass panels donated by Bishop Brodie. The Lady Chapel sat adjacent to the entrance.

The project was funded primarily by the Old Boys’ Association, who raised £1,000 during the early years of the Great Depression – a true show of loyalty and generosity. This would be the first of many times the college would turn to its old boys for support.

Benefactors
The altar, crafted from English oak and adorned with a carved depiction of St Bede’s death by Frederick Gurnsey, was donated by an anonymous friend. Archbishop Redwood gifted a dramatic painting of St Bede by Sister Mary Lawrence of the Sisters of Mercy. Numerous other items, from the altar rail and Lady Chapel to liturgical linens, were generously provided by families, religious orders, and priests from Canterbury and beyond.

Vatican II and the Second Renovation – 1969
In response to the reforms of Vatican II, a second renovation took place in 1968 under Rector and old boy Fr Matt Durning. The sanctuary was redesigned to reflect new liturgical practices while preserving the original character of the space.

Alterations included narrowing the altar, raising the tabernacle, adding new furniture, improving lighting, and restoring the stained-glass windows. Bishop Brian Ashby, himself an old boy, was present when this updated chapel was reopened in March 1969.

Third Renovation – 1991
To mark the college’s 80th jubilee in 1991, the chapel underwent significant renovations once again. Extensions were added to include a Religious Education Centre and Resource Room. The entrance was reoriented to face west, and a new sacristy and storage room were built. These changes slightly reduced the intimacy of the Lady Chapel, though the altar remained in place.

New liturgical furniture was installed, including an altar, lectern, credence table, and presidential chair. Two stained-glass windows were added near the sanctuary ceiling, catching the morning and evening light.

Statue of Mary and the Adolescent Jesus
Part of the third renovation was the commissioning of a carved kauri statue of Mary and the adolescent Jesus. Crafted by John Feldberg, carving began after the timber had properly dried and was completed over two years. The statue was installed on 14 November 1996.

The Earthquakes and a Sacred Space
In the wake of the devastating Canterbury earthquakes in 2011, the chapel was assessed and sadly deemed structurally unsafe. It was demolished, marking the end of an era for St Bede’s.

Today, the space where the chapel once stood has been transformed into a lawn, but it is far more than just open grass. To the students, it is sacred ground. No one walks on it casually; it is reserved for special occasions of solemnity and respect. Most notably, it becomes a site of remembrance on ANZAC Day, where white crosses are installed to honour the fallen.

The chapel’s spirit continues to shape the heart of St Bede’s College – a legacy of faith, sacrifice, and community.

Brodie Hall

Brodie Hall was officially opened on Sunday, 5 February 1967, by Bishop Brian Ashby, an alumnus of St Bede’s. This milestone marked the second phase of a visionary building plan that began with the completion of the Science Block in 1965 and would later include Grimes Hall in 1971 and the Dining Room in 1973. The goal of this construction project was to modernize the campus, unifying its layout and replacing older structures. However, in the mid-1970s, plans had to be altered with the unexpected need to demolish the main building, leading to a shift in focus.

The original master plan involved removing the Army Block, tuckshop, locker rooms, toilets, and fives courts. In preparation, the classroom block had already been moved to make room for Brodie Hall, with the Science Block completed and the old science labs converted into a library, renovated in 1968. The campus was already evolving around Brodie Hall, which would become a central building on the grounds.

Construction and Design
The six-classroom block that was moved to make way for Brodie Hall had originally been constructed in 1953 and opened in 1954. Relocated in 1965 beside the Science Block, it was initially intended to support a second story. However, structural limitations prevented this addition.

Brodie Hall was designed by Charles Thomas, who later became a parent to three St Bede’s students. As the architect of the college’s master plan, Thomas envisioned Brodie Hall as a cornerstone of the new campus, blending durability with a more modern style. Construction finished in February 1967, with classrooms in use immediately after.

Opening Ceremony
The opening of Brodie Hall drew a large crowd of dignitaries, parents, and old boys. The rector at the time was instrumental in the fundraising efforts, and spoke alongside Provincial Father Maurice Bourke SM, himself a student from St Bede’s first year at the Papanui site in 1920.

In his address, Bishop Ashby reflected on St Bede’s past and its future role. He spoke to the naming of the hall, saying, “The new classroom is called Brodie Hall, a fitting tribute to the memory of my revered predecessor, Matthew Brodie. He watched the growth of St Bede’s with anxiety and tender care. While his primary motivation was the preservation of faith in young men of Canterbury, he too would have recognised the immense contributions St Bede’s has made, and will continue to make, thanks be to God.”

Brodie Hall remains a lasting testament to the aspirations and faith that have shaped St Bede’s, serving generations of students and carrying forward the legacy of those who laid its foundations.

The Fives Courts

For nearly 50 years, Fives was a beloved and competitive pastime at St Bede’s. Before school, during morning break, and at lunchtime, the courts were almost always in use as classmates claimed them for spirited games. The third term brought the eagerly anticipated Fives Championships, with semifinals and finals drawing large crowds. Winners in each age group earned serious bragging rights. It was a true badge of honour to be named the Fives Champion.

Fives began to decline in popularity by the mid-1970s. By then, The Bedean had stopped publishing fives reports, and the last names etched on the trophies were recorded in 1975: Guy Armstrong (Frank O’Connell Cup – Senior) and Richard Pascoe (Walsh Cup – Junior).

The Game
Fives originated in England and was played in many public schools, each with its own twist on the game. At St Bede’s, it resembled squash but lacked a back wall. Points were scored similarly, and the serve was critical. A defining feature was the court’s buttress-style end wall with a protruding lip where skilled players aimed to serve into the lip, making returns nearly impossible. Players who mastered this serve were dubbed “tinny.”

The only equipment needed was a shaved tennis ball, and much time was spent preparing one (often in class) using the perforated lid of a metal compass box as a makeshift sieve.

Early Days
The first fives courts were built in the early 1920s behind the original gymnasium (which was later converted to the Chapel of St Bede). In 1929, two new courts were constructed where Grimes now stands, with a third added later. Netting was installed overhead in the 1940s. Fives flourished in the 1930s and 1940s, even rivaling cricket and athletics in popularity. For boarders, in particular, it was a cherished recreational outlet in a time of limited amenities.

Expansion and change
As the school roll grew through the 1950s and ’60s, so did demand for court space. In response, the Old Boys’ Association funded the construction of seven new courts as part of their Golden Jubilee gift, on the site now occupied by the Performing Arts Centre. These courts were well used, but as enthusiasm for the game waned, they fell into disuse and were demolished in the 1980s. The Inner Quad courts, once a popular and central venue for championships, were also removed to make way for the construction of Grimes Hall. In 1973, under the leadership of the energetic Fr Jim Dooley, a new chapter began with the construction of a squash court and three new fives courts – a dual project costing $100,000, with half of the funding provided by the Old Boys’ Association.

Today
While Fives in its original form may no longer be played today, there is still plenty of competitive lunchtime action. Boys still play with tennis balls, serves still matter, and the game is as spirited as ever… even if the walls are no longer part of the landscape. Just like generations before them, today’s students carry on the tradition, one rally at a time.

The Swimming Pool

The St Bede’s swimming pool was officially opened in 1938, made possible through support from the Old Boys’ Association, building on their earlier contribution to the Chapel conversion in 1929. Before this, swimming sports were held at various locations like the Belfast pool, CFM Meat Works, Papanui School pool, or Corsair Bay during the school picnic. This lack of a dedicated pool meant that swimming as a sport lagged, and essential water safety skills were not adequately taught.

Funding and Construction
At their 1937 Annual Meeting, the Old Boys’ Association committed to investigating the feasibility of building a swimming pool to “fill this long-felt want.” They soon secured a site and gathered cost estimates, committing to raise the £800 needed for the project. Initial enthusiasm led to £200 raised quickly, enough to start construction. Bishop Brodie agreed to underwrite the remainder, though it took the Association several years to pay off the debt.

The project was spearheaded by Basil “Wat” Taylor, the Old’ Boys Association President in 1937 and 1938. Taylor, a loyal alumnus, played a pivotal role in fundraising. In 1938, excavation of the site began, with Jack McCormick directing a group of volunteers. Government-provided plans guided construction, and former swimming star Jack McDonald served as an advisor. While the excavation, drainage, and pump system were completed swiftly, the surrounding paving took longer. High diving and springboards, generously donated by Radley and Shaw, added future fun for divers and “bombers” alike, competing to make the biggest splash.

The Grand Opening
In 1939, Bishop Matthew Brodie officially opened the pool, blessing the “baths and the swimmers” in front of a large crowd of students, families, and community. The Bedean records recall, “It was a perfect afternoon and the whole school… stripped in minutes and plunged in.” Later that year, the Old Boys’ Association hosted a carnival to celebrate the new pool, featuring aquatic tricks by Jack McDonald and an address by Rector Fr Maurice Dowling, who praised the new asset.

Swimming Sports
Although the 1940 Bedean carries no mention of swimming sports, by 1941, the new pool hosted its first recorded swimming events. T.P. Cannon became the senior champion and Captain of Swimming, with L. Silcock and J. Mercer named intermediate and junior champions. Swimming classes soon followed, marking a notable improvement in water skills among students.

Chilling Waters
The pool’s artesian well provides famously refreshing water, which now takes just 48 hours to fill compared to the 10-day process of the 1940s. In the 1960s, Fr Tony Williams attempted solar heating by covering the surface with black plastic sheets – a creative but only partially successful solution that warmed the surface layer.

Cherished Memories
For generations of students, the pool holds countless memories, including:

  • The occasional eel release before swimming sports.
  • Changing poolside before dressing rooms were built.
  • Nudging friends into the water.
  • Bombing from the high diving board.
  • Participating in novelty races on Swimming Sports Day.

The pool remains a beloved part of St Bede’s, steeped in tradition and countless joyful moments.

Inner Quad

The Inner Quad’s most iconic feature is its elm tree, believed to be the oldest tree on campus. While a photograph in the 1929 Bedean shows the planting of the first elm, it is thought to have failed, with the current elm planted in 1933. Today, it stands proudly – lush and leafy in summer, starkly bare in winter – at the heart of a space with its own unique character.

In earlier years, the quad’s charm came from its proximity to the Old Main Building, student lockers, and the Fives Courts. More recently, its significance has been shaped by its closeness to the Dining Room, the Chapel of St Bede, Grimes, and Marist House. It remains a hub of activity, alive with students during morning tea and lunch, and a gathering spot for boarders and visitors on weekends. Adding to its personality is the presence of the beloved tuckshop – a focal point for generations of St Bede’s students.

Tuckshop
The original tuckshop’s exact location is uncertain, though it likely began in a freestanding hut near the Fives Courts in 1926 and was privately run. Later, it moved to a block of wooden buildings on the quad’s southern edge. When those were demolished in 1971, the tuckshop found its way to the ground floor of Grimes Hall, before making it’s current home in a prefab building beside the Dining Hall.

Over the years, the tuckshop has been the setting for many stories, from generous servings to questionable pie quality – the lunchtime staple for many students. One legendary tale features Fr Vince Curtain, who, suspecting petty theft, spent a night in the tuckshop. To his surprise, he witnessed a fishing rod being skillfully lowered through the wall from the prefects’ room. The line deftly plucked bottle after bottle from the soft drink fridge, but the “fishermen” were quickly caught.

The Prefects’ Room
The Prefects’ Room, once located in a wooden block along the quad, was an exclusive space for senior students, off-limits to others. Any junior who dared to enter risked facing the wrath of the “beaks.” In the 1960s, the room gained further allure when a radio broadcast music through a speaker to students lounging in the quad, making it one of the most coveted seating areas.

Today
The inner quad remains a space steeped in history, framed by the surrounding buildings that echo the college’s past. Its orderly design, with neatly defined paths and boundaries, offers a quiet contrast to the bustle of activity it hosts daily. Yet, it is the majestic elm tree that gives the quad its enduring charm, anchoring it as a space that connects past and present at St Bede’s College.

The Dining Hall

For many years, the kitchen staff, matrons, teachers, and boarding students all contended with outdated and cramped kitchen and dining facilities. Rapid growth in the school, particularly among boarders, placed heavy demands on these spaces. By the 1960s, the need for an upgrade was undeniable, though it wasn’t until the mid-1970s that change finally arrived.

A New Era in Facilities
The completion of a new kitchen in 1974 and the opening of the Dowling Dining Room in 1975 marked a major milestone in St Bede’s College’s building program. As Fr Des Darby noted in the 1975 Bedean, “I offer the college’s deepest gratitude to those wonderful benefactors who have contributed to our rebuilding programme. The evidence of (this) generosity and self-sacrifice stands around us… the science complex, the fourteen-classroom Brodie Hall, Grimes Hall… I know of no other private school that has built so much in such a short time.”

Located in the Inner Quadrangle behind the main building and next to the pool, the Dining Hall required significant changes to the campus layout. The Prefects’ Room, Tuckshop, and Locker Rooms – once nestled in a series of low-lying rooms – were demolished to make space for the new Dining Hall.

Architect Charles Thomas took on his third project for the college with the Dowling Dining Hall, which proved to be his most challenging. The octagonal design, featuring a high vaulted ceiling, was bold, and yet harmonized with Grimes and Brodie Halls as well as the main building. The hall’s design even allowed for the possibility of an additional floor – an option discussed over the years but never pursued.

A Lasting Legacy
Today, the Dowling Dining Hall remains central to life in the boarding community. It’s where students come together for meals, announcements, welcomes, and farewells. Its walls, adorned with memories through the decades, serving as touchstones during reunions, connecting past and present generations of St Bede’s Boarders.  The bold ‘Men of’ installation and college crest, celebrate the values we strive to live by; knowledge, sportsmanship, leadership, faith, heart, and culture. Together, these installations reflect the proud spirit of St Bede’s – past, present, and future.

Durham - The South Wing

Standing tall at the front of the school is the one of the oldest buildings to still stand on the college grounds. Having been home to a number of boarders who have passed through St Bede’s, it is a building filled with memories and history.

Originally known as the South Wing the building was finished in 1955. The South Wing completed the trilogy of building that would become part of the iconic St Bede’s landscape for years to come.

The intention was to always build a south wing, and in fact, the central part of the building where the the wing was to join, was only ever finished with wooden walls to allow for the extension. The original central building was constructed in 1920, with the North Wing following shortly after in 1924. The South Wing however, was to take a lot longer and wouldn’t be completed for another 30 years.

The 1945 Silver Jubilee spoke about the need for the South Wing extension saying: “This brings up to date the restless story of the building of St Bede’s College. The story has not yet ended. It cannot end until the South Wing rises to complete the planned symmetry of the College. Only in the completed design will every room have its proper function, every space and corner its intended purpose. May God grant that that day of fulfilment is not far distant. May our good friends hasten that day by donations and legacies so necessary if that object is to be achieved.”

Fr John Dowling announced the plan for the extension in the late 1940s, but wartime shortages and increasing costs meant the project had to be sidelined, just as the main building had been years before during the First World War. 

In 1952, approval was finally given from the Marist leadership in Rome to go ahead with the planned extension although it came with some conditions. Rome wanted running water available in each priest’s room and disapproved of the original position of a community room on the second floor, due to a lack of light.

Under rector Fr Jack Mannix the South Wing was finally underway with the foundation stone laid on 12 September 1954 and blessed by Bishop Joyce. The final building included a main oratory with a sacristy, two smaller oratories, a bathroom, and three bedrooms. The top floor had another three oratories, eight bedrooms, and a bathroom. At the same time, the old building’s back (eastern) wall was buttressed and strengthened, and some interior walls were removed to make dormitories longer and more easily supervised. A 2-inch gap was left between the wing and the main building, to allow for movement in an earthquake.

Finally, the South Wing was built and officially opened December 4, 1955. While the Central and North Wing had a combined cost of about $43,000, the South Wing, 30 years later, had a completed cost of $55,000. A major part of the cost was because this wing had to match the rest of the building, the English Perpendicular Gothic style. The windows were deeply recessed, with long straight pillars and ornamental cornices, and the height of each room was more than for other buildings of the 1950s era, which would have been able to have four stories instead of three. It was also said that “The extension will also permit enlargement of the existing boys’ dining hall to give magnificently long proportions.”

The excitement of the opening of the South Wing was evident in the 1955 Bedean where Rector Fr Maurice Bourke wrote: “1955 must be considered one of the notable years in the history of St Bede’s. The boys of this year have witnessed in the opening of the southern wing, which completes the main college building, the fulfilment of high hopes and the materializing of a thirty-year-old dream.”

The three buildings would stand side by side for just over 20 years before the original two were condemned as an earthquake risk. In 1976 the Waimari County Council declared the North and Central Wings to be earthquake risks requiring extensive remediation work which would come at a huge cost to the college, or the demolition of both buildings. The initial reaction among old boys was that the building, such an iconic part of the St Bede’s landscape, must be saved. However, due to financial constraints, the decision (controversial though it may have been) was made to demolish it. This earned Rector Fr Des Darby the nickname “Demolition Darby.”

In 1980 the demolition began and the South Wing was refurbished with senior students able to move into the new dormitory in time for the start of Term 3. Now, without the Central and North Wing, the South Wing was renamed Durham after the resting place of St Bede.

Durham continues to be an important part of the school’s history as home to the Year 9 and 10 boarders. It is a building that holds many memories for a number of old boys and continues to be a place where lifelong friendships are made.

Boarding at St Bede's

From the moment the first boarders arrived at St Bede’s in 1920, boarding life has been an integral part of the college’s identity. Their first home was the newly constructed Central Wing, but as numbers quickly grew, so too did the need for more space.

When the Central and North Wings were deemed as being no longer compliant with modern seismic standards, they were sadly demolished, marking a significant moment in St Bede’s history . This triggered a significant reorganisation of boarding facilities. In the interim, junior boarders were housed off-site at Loretto College in Papanui, commuting daily until temporary arrangements were improved. Meanwhile, renovations were made to the South Wing (now Durham), allowing senior students to return to campus, while younger year groups were distributed across other buildings, including Grimes Hall.

Jarrow, located across the river, was completed and opened to Year 11 boarders, and in 2010, Wearmouth (a purpose-built dormitory for Year 13s) was blessed and opened, named after the birthplace of St Bede in England.

When the Dining Hall temporarily closed following the 2011 earthquakes for safety assessments, meals were famously served under a marquee beside Wearmouth, much to the delight of the Year 13s. Thankfully, normal service resumed just a couple of months later.

Today, the St Bede’s boarding village continues to grow and adapt, grounded in a strong tradition of resilience, community, and belonging – values that have shaped generations of boarders for more than a century.

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