The original Church of St. Ignatius was formerly a two-storey joiner's shop, and is now our Parish Centre. It was purchased in approximately August 1875. When partially converted it was used for a "tea" to raise funds for the further renovations required.
The first mass was held on Sunday 2nd December 1877 and was served by Jesuit Priests from St Austin's until December 1910..
The first Priest was Father Richard Cooper, S.J.
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From November 5th, 1883 the entire school was taught in just one room. The ages of the children ranged from 3 right up to 13 years of age, with just the one teacher initially! Later another teacher was employed and the school was split into two classes by a movable partition - but still the pupil's ages spanned approximately five years in each class. In 1905 the Infants Classroom was added (now the bar area of the Parish Centre) separating the infants and "babies" from the older children aged 7 to 14 years. Everything had to be cleared on Friday afternoons for church use on Saturday and Sunday.
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Here is a photograph of pupils at St. Ignatius over a hundred years ago. How different from today's school photographs. |
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Does anyone recognise them? They could be your Grandparents or Great Grandparents! |
HISTORY OF OUR SCHOOL CONTINUED
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