Bishop Feild College

Bishop Feild College
General information
Architectural style Collegiate Gothic Revival
Town or city Bond Street, St. John's, NL
Country Canada
Coordinates 47°34′10″N 52°42′21″W / 47.5695336°N 52.7059596°W
Construction started 1926
Design and construction
Architect Eustace G. Bird
Engineer Anglin-Norcross Ltd.
Bishop Feild School
Location
Bond Street, St. John's, NL
Canada
Information
Type Private
Established 1844
Grades K-6
Enrollment ~270
Campus Urban
Website Bishop Feild School official website

Bishop Feild College (originally Church of England Academy; formerly Church of England College and Bishop Feild Elementary; currently Bishop Feild School), founded in 1844, is a school in St. John's, Newfoundland. Founded as the Church of England Academy, it was renamed in 1892 as the Church of England College in 1892, before its 1894 name change to Bishop Feild College.[1] The renaming was in honor of Bishop Edward Feild, a school inspector and second Bishop of Newfoundland.

Originally an Anglican-affiliated boys school of the Newfoundland Cathedral,[2] it later also admitted girls. BFC has functioned as a middle school and secondary school, but it now only admits students through grade 6. An independent private school until the 1960s, it eventually joined the school board. It is a member of the International League of Peaceful Schools. It currently teaches approximately 273 children in grades Kindergarten to Grade 6 that offers an English language stream as well as an Early French Immersion Program.[3]

Early headmasters of BFC came from England. Ralph Robinson Wood was the first headmaster born in Newfoundland.[4] BFC alumni are referred to as "Old Feildians".[5]

The Feildian was a monthly magazine pertaining to BFC and other Church of England schools in Newfoundland. Its objectives were to foster school spirit while chronicling the school's affairs through content such as correspondence, news, sports, and an alumni section. Established in 1893, it ceased publication in 1960. It was the first publication of its kind in Newfoundland.[6]

Building

The current building, located at 044 Bond Street and built in 1926 by Anglin and Norcross, was designed by the architect Eustace G. Bird in Collegiate Gothic Revival style. This style was typical for Church of England buildings that were commissioned under Bishop Feild.as he sought a “high-church” tone set around the Anglican Church. The building plan is a rectangular, long façade. Its defining elements include crenellation and rusticated stone. Indiana limestone is used, with limestone quoining at corners. At the entranceway, there are places that represent the coasts of arms of the school, city, province, and the diocese. Large windows are also located at the entranceway. Keystone trim can be found around windows.[7] BFC was named as a Registered Heritage Structure by the Heritage Foundation of Newfoundland and Labrador in June 1994.[8]

Alumni

Academics

References

  1. Gough, Ruby Louise (2005). Robert Edwards Holloway: Newfoundland educator, scientist, photographer, 1874-1904. Canadian electronic library. McGill-Queen's Press. p. 235. ISBN 0-7735-2852-0.
  2. Jonas, Holly Higgins (2001). In their own words: Canadian choral conductors. Canadian electronic library: Books collection. Dundurn Press Ltd.,. p. 67. ISBN 1-55002-358-6.
  3. "About the School". Bishop Feild School. Retrieved 14 August 2010.
  4. "Headmasters". bishopfeildarchives.com. Retrieved 14 August 2010.
  5. "About The Archive". bishopfeildarchives.com. Retrieved 14 August 2010.
  6. "The Feildian (Bishop Feild College)". collections.mun.ca. Memorial University of Newfoundland Digital Archives Initiative. 1900. Retrieved 15 August 2010.
  7. "Bishop Feild College Registered Heritage Structure". heritagefoundation.ca. Heritage Foundation of Newfoundland & Labrador. Retrieved 14 August 2010.
  8. "Bishop Feild College (Bond Street, St. John's)". Registered Heritage Structures. heritage.nf.ca. Retrieved 14 August 2010.