Interim heritage listing for Guildford Grammar School Chapel

11/7/97

One of the Swan Valley's principal heritage trail tourist attractions is to be listed on the interim register of heritage places, Heritage Minister Graham Kierath said.

The Guildford Grammar School Chapel is one of the major heritage buildings of the historic Guildford area and a powerful, enduring icon of the famous school.

"The chapel can be seen from great distances and is a landmark of the Guildford area," Mr Kierath said.

"It is also one of the finest examples of architectural excellence in Western Australia.

"The technical skills and traditional craft evident in its construction are of the highest order."

Mr Kierath said the chapel was one of the crowning achievements of the Reverend Percy Henn, the headmaster who actively pursued funds for the chapel's construction after he was appointed in 1909.

Founded in 1896 by Charles Harper, who lived at the nearby Woodbridge mansion, Guildford Grammar quickly grew to more than 100 students.

In 1909 Harper sold the school to the Church of England and Rev. Henn was appointed headmaster.

Rev. Henn was of the view that 'a Church public school without its own chapel can hardly be true to its character or efficient in building up strong and manly Christian gentlemen'.

Encouraged by the Archbishop of Canterbury, Rev Henn set about rasing money and called on philanthropist Cecil Oliverson to share his ideals about Christian education and an interest in the welfare of British colonies.

Oliverson agreed to bear the cost of building the chapel and his involvement in the project grew from 5,000 pounds to 30,000 pounds.

Mr Kierath said Rev Henn hired prominent London architect Sir Walter Tapper, a leading designer in Gothic style architecture, to design the chapel.

"Over the next few years, Sir Walter prepared a design and his son, Walter, came to Perth to implement it with the help of skilled artisans from England," he said.

"Work began in February 1912 and took two years to complete.

"Oliverson also paid for the furnishings, including a magnificent steel lectern with a swivel top to support the Windsor Bible of St George's Chapel, a gift from King George and Queen Mary."

The building was highly praised and envied throughout the country, with The West Australian newspaper calling it 'the most perfect structure of its kind in the Commonwealth' and 'the finest Edwardian Gothic building in the country'.

Mr Kierath said the Chapel Maintenance Fund, established in 1967, was used to repair damage from the 1968 Meckering earthquake, when the stone cross fell on to the parapet, the bell tower cracked from top to bottom and large chunks of plaster and stone fell from the ceiling.

In October 1980 a student started a fire that severely damaged part of the building and destroyed and damaged furniture.

The Windsor Bible was destroyed in the fire but replaced by Queen Elizabeth and the entire restoration, completed in 1983, cost $650,000.

Four years later, Guildford Old Boys raised more than $1,000,000 to ensure future maintenance of the chapel.

"The chapel is a showpiece of the school and Guildford's heritage precinct and richly deserves protection under the State's heritage laws," Mr Kierath said.

Media contact: Steve Manchee 9481 2133