Mount St Mary's College
Encyclopedia
Mount St Mary's College is an independent coeducational boarding school
Boarding school
A boarding school is a school where some or all pupils study and live during the school year with their fellow students and possibly teachers and/or administrators. The word 'boarding' is used in the sense of "bed and board," i.e., lodging and meals...

 situated at Spinkhill
Spinkhill
Spinkhill is a small village to the north of Renishaw in Derbyshire. The nearest town is Killamarsh. It is home to the Church of the Immaculate Conception and its associated Catholic Primary School. Spinkhill is also home to Mount St Mary's College, a private school. The village has strong...

, Derbyshire
Derbyshire
Derbyshire is a county in the East Midlands of England. A substantial portion of the Peak District National Park lies within Derbyshire. The northern part of Derbyshire overlaps with the Pennines, a famous chain of hills and mountains. The county contains within its boundary of approx...

, near Sheffield
Sheffield
Sheffield is a city and metropolitan borough of South Yorkshire, England. Its name derives from the River Sheaf, which runs through the city. Historically a part of the West Riding of Yorkshire, and with some of its southern suburbs annexed from Derbyshire, the city has grown from its largely...

, England
England
England is a country that is part of the United Kingdom. It shares land borders with Scotland to the north and Wales to the west; the Irish Sea is to the north west, the Celtic Sea to the south west, with the North Sea to the east and the English Channel to the south separating it from continental...

. It was founded in 1842 by Fr Randal Lythgoe, the Provincial Superior of the Society of Jesus
Society of Jesus
The Society of Jesus is a Catholic male religious order that follows the teachings of the Catholic Church. The members are called Jesuits, and are also known colloquially as "God's Army" and as "The Company," these being references to founder Ignatius of Loyola's military background and a...

, a Roman Catholic religious order commonly known as the Jesuits. The current Headmaster is Mr. Laurence McKell.

The pupils range in age from 11 to 18, (Year 7 to Year 13). Each of these years are named after different stages of elementary skills: starting at Upper Elements (Year 7) to Figures, Rudiments, Grammar, Syntax, Poetry and Rhethoric (Year 13). The school is the senior school to Barlborough Hall School
Barlborough Hall
Barlborough Hall is a Grade I listed 16th century country house, located in Barlborough, Chesterfield, Derbyshire, England.Originally built by Sir Francis Rodes, , circa 1583-84, as the family seat, the hall’s Elizabethan design is attributed to Robert Smythson, one of a noted family of...

, and the schools are closely linked, with Barlborough
Barlborough
Barlborough is a village and civil parish in the Bolsover district of Derbyshire, England. According to the 2001 census it had a population of 3,018. The village is near junction 30 of the M1 motorway and is about five miles north of Bolsover...

 only 2.2 miles away (by road).

History

The Jesuit vocation, in the words of St Ignatius, is to ‘go anywhere and do anything for the greater glory of God.’ The Society was founded in 1540 and almost immediately it became clear to those first companions that the work of education would constitute one of their most effective ways of furthering God’s kingdom on earth.

The Jesuit Mission to England began in 1580 with the secret arrival of Persons, Campion and Emerson. After Campion’s arrest the following year, Persons slipped back to the Continent where he spent most of the rest of his life preparing others for the English Mission. One of the first things he did was to set up a school for the education of English boys who had no hope of receiving a Catholic education in their own country.

Many of its students went on to become priests, returning to England to work, and sometimes to give their lives, for the Faith. In England itself there were several clandestine schools, one of them at Stanley Grange in Derbyshire. When this school was discovered and dispersed by the authorities, it did not cease to exist, and there is strong evidence to suggest that, for a time, it found a home here at Spinkhill. Spinkhill had been a centre of Jesuit activity from the very earliest times, and it is almost certain that Persons and perhaps even Campion, spent some time here.

The Jesuit English Province was organized territorially into a number of ‘colleges’, the North Midlands area being designated the college of the Immaculate Conception. In 1842 it was decided to found a school here in the hamlet of Spinkhill, a property of the Pole family and that school was designated ‘The College of the Immaculate Conception at Spinkhill’, or more familiarly, Mount St Mary’s College. The founder of the College was Rev. Randall Lythgoe, SJ Provincial of the Society of Jesus in England.

The College buildings date, in part, from the 16th and 17th centuries, the Sodality Chapel being the earliest remaining building. The Jesuits had a College at Holbeck Woodhouse, near Welbeck, which was raided by the soldiers of Charles II and the furnishings were brought to Spinkhill. Joseph Hansom, an architect and inventor of the Hansom Cab, built the first College buildings in 1840. The Hopkins wing (girls) was constructed a little later (1850) and the New College was begun in 1876 and completed in 1912. The school chapel
Chapel
A chapel is a building used by Christians as a place of fellowship and worship. It may be part of a larger structure or complex, such as a church, college, hospital, palace, prison or funeral home, located on board a military or commercial ship, or it may be an entirely free-standing building,...

, designed by Adrian Gilbert Scott
Adrian Gilbert Scott
Adrian Gilbert Scott was an English architect. He was the grandson of Sir George Gilbert Scott, son of George Gilbert Scott, Jr., nephew of John Oldrid Scott, and brother to Sir Giles Gilbert Scott, all architects....

, was completed in 1924 as a memorial to those former pupils killed in World War I
World War I
World War I , which was predominantly called the World War or the Great War from its occurrence until 1939, and the First World War or World War I thereafter, was a major war centred in Europe that began on 28 July 1914 and lasted until 11 November 1918...

. In the atrium to the Chapel can be seen more than 100 names of former pupils of the school killed in the Second Boer War
Second Boer War
The Second Boer War was fought from 11 October 1899 until 31 May 1902 between the British Empire and the Afrikaans-speaking Dutch settlers of two independent Boer republics, the South African Republic and the Orange Free State...

, World War I
World War I
World War I , which was predominantly called the World War or the Great War from its occurrence until 1939, and the First World War or World War I thereafter, was a major war centred in Europe that began on 28 July 1914 and lasted until 11 November 1918...

 and World War II
World War II
World War II, or the Second World War , was a global conflict lasting from 1939 to 1945, involving most of the world's nations—including all of the great powers—eventually forming two opposing military alliances: the Allies and the Axis...

.

In 1939 Barlborough Hall, an Elizabethan manor some two miles from Spinkhill, was acquired to serve as a preparatory school to the Mount.

The school was a boys only school until the 1970s, when girls were admitted as day students. Girl boarders started in 1984, and remain until today. Old scholars of Mount St Mary's are known as 'Old Mountaineers'.

The move-away from the Society of Jesus

In September 2006, the constitution of the College and its preparatory school, Barlborough Hall
Barlborough Hall
Barlborough Hall is a Grade I listed 16th century country house, located in Barlborough, Chesterfield, Derbyshire, England.Originally built by Sir Francis Rodes, , circa 1583-84, as the family seat, the hall’s Elizabethan design is attributed to Robert Smythson, one of a noted family of...

, changed to that of a charitable trust called "Mount St Mary's" whose board of Trustees forms the present governing body. The Society of Jesus formally transferred property of the schools, their capita, business and other assets to Mount St Mary's Trust, so that, from a legal point of view, the schools are independent of the Society of Jesus.

Sports and Recreation

The school has an excels in sports especially rugby and some of its older students have joined the England Rugby teams along with Scotland, Ireland, Italy and many other countries. The school has had exchanges in the past with Notre Dame St Sigisbert
Lycee Notre-Dame Saint-Sigisbert
Notre-Dame Saint-Sigisbert is a private Catholic university under contract with the state. It is ranked tenth out of 48 schools of excellence by the French magazine L'student in December 2006. It is located in the city of Nancy.School St...

 in Nancy, France
France
The French Republic , The French Republic , The French Republic , (commonly known as France , is a unitary semi-presidential republic in Western Europe with several overseas territories and islands located on other continents and in the Indian, Pacific, and Atlantic oceans. Metropolitan France...

 as well as Joan 23 which is in Barcelona
Barcelona
Barcelona is the second largest city in Spain after Madrid, and the capital of Catalonia, with a population of 1,621,537 within its administrative limits on a land area of...

. In 2009, the school began a French Exchange with the school St.Michel in St.Etienne, France.

The school also features an in-door shooting range, and is involved with the Combined Cadet Forces (CCF), with all students in Years 10 and 11 taking part in either the Army or (from 1984 onwards) RAF section. The school CCF had its own army regiment until 1986, when it was amalgamated into the Sherwood Foresters
Sherwood Foresters
The Sherwood Foresters was formed during the Childers Reforms in 1881 from the amalgamation of the 45th Regiment of Foot and the 95th Regiment of Foot...

 regiment.

Music and drama are also of an extremely high calibre with the departments joining together to put on large shows. This term the school is putting on Sweet Charity from 24 to 27 November 2010 in the College Theatre.

The Mounts new art department combining design and technology, fashion, fine art and photography makes this subject a popular choice with pupils.

Extra-curricular activities are a central part of the schools ethos of supporting a well rounded education and activities include Shooting, Airfix Club, Choirs, Sports Groups, Duke of Edinburgh, Young Enterprise, Debating, Textiles, Creative Writing, Clay Model Animation Club and many more.

The school also does fund-raising events for the Chikuni Mission in Zambia
Zambia
Zambia , officially the Republic of Zambia, is a landlocked country in Southern Africa. The neighbouring countries are the Democratic Republic of the Congo to the north, Tanzania to the north-east, Malawi to the east, Mozambique, Zimbabwe, Botswana and Namibia to the south, and Angola to the west....

: the connection is known as "Mwabuka", a Tonga
Tonga language (Zambia)
The Tonga language of Zambia and Zimbabwe is a Bantu Language primarily spoken by the Tonga people in those countries who live mainly in the Southern and Western provinces of Zambia, and in northern Zimbabwe, with a few in Mozambique. The language is also spoken by the Tonga, Ila, Iwe, Toka and...

 word meaning "Good morning" or "You have arisen".

School Facilities

Along with a Grade 1 Olympic Athletics track, there are 9 rugby pitches, 3 cricket squares, an astro-turf, two sports halls and a leisure centre with indoor swimming pool, cardio room and two weights rooms. The latter is also open to the general public for use at specific times.

Sixth Formers now have a dedicated Sixth Form Centre for individual study and relaxing, bridging the gap between school and university. A new teaching and learning programme also supports and develops individual learning along with an enrichment programme of well-known outside speakers that encourages Sixth Formers to realise their ambitions.

There are brand new boarding facilities with additional houses to accommodate the increase in boarders at the school and opportunities to try out various activities in the local area on the weekend.

Notable Mountaineers

Old Boys (or alumni) are known as "Mountaineers"
  • Fr Tom Conlan SJ, papal medal vatican II, captured first German ship WWII, founder of colleges in Rhodesia, historian, classicist, shakespearean scholar, teacher stoneyhurst (briefly), captain rugby at Mount St Mary's, captain Irish English Schools rugby team/ (Jesuit archives active in south America, southern Africa and England). Born Belfast, died London.

  • Gerard Manley Hopkins teacher/poet
  • Sir Denis Henry, 1st Baronet
    Sir Denis Henry, 1st Baronet
    Sir Denis Stanislaus Henry, 1st Baronet KBE, PC, QC , was an Irish lawyer and politician who became the first Lord Chief Justice of Northern Ireland....

     - Lord Chief Justice of Northern Ireland
    Lord Chief Justice of Northern Ireland
    The Lord Chief Justice of Northern Ireland is the head of the judiciary in Northern Ireland, presiding over the Courts of Northern Ireland. The present Lord Chief Justice of Northern Ireland is Sir Declan Morgan...

  • Lord Wheatley
  • Sir Martin Melvin
  • Air Marshal Sir Francis Fresanges
  • Sir David Rose
  • Sir Diarmaid Conroy
  • Major General McGinness
  • Francis Petre
    Francis Petre
    Francis William "Frank" Petre was a prominent New Zealand-born architect based in Dunedin. He was an able exponent of the Gothic revival style, one of its best practitioners in New Zealand. He followed the Roman Church's initiative to build Catholic places of worship in Anglo-Saxon countries in...

     - New Zealand
    New Zealand
    New Zealand is an island country in the south-western Pacific Ocean comprising two main landmasses and numerous smaller islands. The country is situated some east of Australia across the Tasman Sea, and roughly south of the Pacific island nations of New Caledonia, Fiji, and Tonga...

     architect
    Architect
    An architect is a person trained in the planning, design and oversight of the construction of buildings. To practice architecture means to offer or render services in connection with the design and construction of a building, or group of buildings and the space within the site surrounding the...

  • Brendan Lim - Senior Inspector of Police in Hong Kong
    Hong Kong
    Hong Kong is one of two Special Administrative Regions of the People's Republic of China , the other being Macau. A city-state situated on China's south coast and enclosed by the Pearl River Delta and South China Sea, it is renowned for its expansive skyline and deep natural harbour...

  • John Kelly - awarded the MBE
    Order of the British Empire
    The Most Excellent Order of the British Empire is an order of chivalry established on 4 June 1917 by George V of the United Kingdom. The Order comprises five classes in civil and military divisions...

     "for services to Local Government" in the 2008 New Year's Honours List
  • Hugh Lofting
    Hugh Lofting
    Hugh John Lofting was a British author, trained as a civil engineer, who created the character of Doctor Dolittle — one of the classics of children's literature.-Personal life:...

     - Author and creator of Doctor Dolittle
    Doctor Dolittle
    Doctor John Dolittle is the central character of a series of children's books by Hugh Lofting starting with the 1920 The Story of Doctor Dolittle. He is a doctor who shuns human patients in favour of animals, with whom he can speak in their own languages...

     (attended the College 1894-1904)
  • Dr Craig Brown http://www.ncnr.nist.gov/news/Brown_PECASE_2009.html - Dr. Craig Brown is an instrument scientist for the Disk Chopper Spectrometer at the NIST Center for Neutron Research.
  • Ben Sanders
    Ben Sanders
    Alexander Bennett "Ben" Sanders was an American Major League Baseball player, who pitched a total of five seasons, for three different teams.-Career:...

  • Carlos Reygadas
    Carlos Reygadas
    Carlos Reygadas is a Mexican filmmaker known for his three films Batalla en el Cielo, Japón and Silent Light . After Batalla en el Cielo, he was known for his raw depiction of sex in his films and the use of old or ugly-seeming characters...

    - Film Director

External links

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