Chapel of St Mark
“Chapel of St Mark will stand at the entrance of Hale for generations to come. The way the Chapel looks out over the City of Perth links the faith with the mission of the school – to send boys out into the world, able to see beyond the material in the prosperity of this age.” – Cygnet 1968
This unique and striking building dominates the entrance to Hale School and stands out to all passersby. The Chapel of St Mark was designed by renowned WA Architect, Marshall Clifton and consecrated by the Anglican Archbishop the most Rev. George Appleton in 1969.
Before moving to the Wembley Downs campus in 1961, Hale School students had attended St Mary’s Church in West Perth with sister school St Mary’s Anglican Girls’ School under the pastoral leadership of the Reverend Charles ‘Tom’ Riley (1905-06), Old Haleian and founder of St Mary’s Anglican Girls’ School. The building of the Chapel of St Mark was the first time that Hale students, both boarders and day students could worship on campus.
Chapel Architecture – award winning architect Marshall Clifton
Renowned West Australian Architect Mr Marshall Clifton designed the Chapel of St Mark. By 1969, he had already designed in partnership with Tony Brand, many of the buildings at the Wembley Downs campus including the Headmaster’s House, Memorial Hall and the Dining Hall.
The symbolism incorporated within the design was intended to offer sanctuary and peace to the growing Hale community in a place dedicated to God and Church. The southwest wall is unusual. It is curved and can look to some like a climbing wall for students. However, as the outer wall of the chapel symbolizes the protective security of the church around its community. The balustrade around the outside of the entrance way, lining the broad platform, represents the crown of thorns.
Providing a firm link with the heritage of the school, Marshall Clifton incorporated in the build, old convict made bricks in the form of a cross. These bricks were salvaged by Walter James, student (1880) and Member of the Board of Governors 1918-27, and others from the George Street property where the school, and later, boarders only, were located from 1880 until 1926. The building was demolished soon afterwards.
In 1979 there were two major building works caried out in the Chapel to improve appearance and efficiency. The first was the installation of a stained-glass window, the largest of the eastern windows. It was a gift from Quinton Stow who, after 20 years as Chairman of the Board of Governors, stepped down from the role. The second work undertaken was the fixing of plywood panels on the ceiling. The acoustics before this had been terrible, according to the Cygnet, the ‘singing was dull and the organ ineffective’. Jarrah boards were fitted to each alternate row of ceiling panels. This helped improve the acoustics and make the inside of the chapel more appealing.
[insert photos of curved wall, balustrade, inside of chapel and the construction and pages of the .pdf of the architects brief as a grid inside accordion or carousel]
The Chapel of St Mark was consecrated by the Reverend George Appleton on Sunday 16 February 1969. The Cygnet from that year provides a vivid account of the day conveying a strong sense of the solemnity and emotion of the occasion.
The 111th year in the history of Hale School was made memorable by the consecration of the school’s first Chapel, dedicated to the glory of God and the honour of St Mark, by the most Reverend George Appleton on Sunday, February 16th, 1969.
It was a day of searing heat with the temperature over the century by 11am. The Chapel was packed above capacity. The fact that it needed more ventilation was painfully obvious.
Before the service began, Mr Brian Barrett, organist of Guildford Grammar School, gave a recital on the new Larner organ and then the doors were closed.
The Archbishop – attended by the Chairman of the Board of Governors, Mr Q Stow, and the Chaplain, the Reverend R E Davis – then knocked on the door with his pastoral staff and was admitted by the Headmaster. Dr Tregonning handed the keys to the Archbishop and asked him to consecrate the Chapel.
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The Chapel of St Mark is named after Mark the Evangelist, traditionally considered the author of the Gospel of Mark. More modern scholars believe the gospel was written by an anonymous author. It remains a contentious issue. Nonetheless, in 1969, Reverend Charles ‘Tom’ Riley, suggested that St Mark was an appropriate name for Hale School’s first chapel. The Feast of St Mark fell on the same day as Anzac Day, 25 April; a day very close to the hearts of all Hale students, current and past. He believed that, together with aspects of St Marks life, it made it a fitting name. On the outside doors of the Chapel sit the Lions of St Mark. They were designed by Roger Lilly and were a gift from Stirling House.
[TBC as another source suggests Ian Lilly and gift from Rev Russell Davis]
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The Reverend Russell Davis was appointed as the Hale School Chaplain in 1960. He looked after the religious education of the students and pastoral care of the Hale community until 1987.
There have been eight Chaplains of Hale School since the completion of the Chapel. Each one acknowledged on an honour board inside the chapel. The current Chaplain is Father Thomas Couper who joined the school in 2022.
Chaplains
- Reverend Russell Davis 1960 to 1987
- Reverend Brian Eccleston 1988 to 1989
- Reverend Richard Pengelley 1990 to 2000
- Reverend Tim Russell 2001 to 2006
- Reverend Dougall Ethel 2006 to 2016
- Reverend Dr. Alan Forsyth 2017 to 2018
- Reverend Dr. Eleanor O’Donnell 2019 to 2021
- Father Thomas Couper 2022 to present
The Chapel was funded by two appeals. Firstly, by two Old Haleian Board of Governors, Sir Henry Cooke K.B. (1915-17) and Mr Quinton Stow (1911-19) who, with the help of Mrs Leslie Craig raised over $50,000. Then in 1968, the Old Haleians’ Association organised an appeal that raised the remainder of the money needed to complete the build. These families form a deep and long connection to the school, many of whom feature again and again in the history of the school at the Wembley Downs campus.
[insert, digital copies of fundraising brochures, letters, correspondence etc]
The doors were donated by the Atkins Family, including Old Boy Dr Philip Atkins (1927-34), in memory of L.F.King Atkins (1892-95).
Marshall Clifton also incorporated, in the form of a cross, the old convict-made bricks from the George Street school, salvaged by Walter James, student (1880) and Member of the Board of Governors 1918-1927, and others when it was demolished in 1926.
The ceramic sculptures of the Lions of St Mark on the doors, were designed by Roger Lilly and were a gift from Stirling House. However, another reliable source indicates they were designed by Ian Lilly and donated by the Reverend Russell Davis.[TBC]
The first altar was a gift from the family of the late J B Newbery, science master at Hale from 1917-1945.
Each House raised money to buy something to donate to the Chapel. Buntine gave the alter bookstand; Faulkner the silver chalice and paten; Haynes House a prayer desk; Loton the sanctuary lamp; Parry House donated the processional cross and the sanctuary lamp which were both designed by Jane Priest; Riley House the large cross behind the Altar; Stirling House (now Tregonning House) one of two prayer desks and a chair; Wilson House the font and lectern; Brine House the candlesticks (now in the Archives); the Junior school donated a candle snuffer and wafer box. Stirling House raised $400 in a walkathon, and this provided funds for other items as were needed.
Gifts were made by other Perth-based schools. Wesley College donated the pulpit; Aquinas College donated four small stained-glass windows which were designed by Gowers and Brown, who also designed and installed the northern and southern windows. Christ Church Grammar School donated the Book of Common Prayer; Guildford Grammar School donated one of the two sanctuary chairs, made especially for the occasion and Scotch College presented the school with the Bible still used today by Father Tom.
Additions were made to the Chapel organ in 1978 when a bequest was received from the estate of the late Doris Green, a long-time Junior School teacher. In the same year Justice John Virtue donated a stainless-steel font cup, and the two sisters of Bill Altorfer, Pat Kennison and Margaret von Hazel, donated a communion chalice. Mr Michael Bennett, assistant Housemaster in Faulkner House (date unknown) gave the alter service book, Mr Andre Foss (1956-59), Art teacher and Old Boy, made and gave a pottery urn for the font, while Robin Johnson (1947-50), woodwork teacher and Old Boy, made, presented and installed two hymn boards. Horace Bernard “Boogie” Summers (1910-18) another Old Haleian, donated the wooden pedestal for flowers.
David Broadhurst (1938-47) designed and donated a table and chest of drawers. The chest of drawers is currently used in the vestry.
The chapel bell, cast especially for the building, was a gift from Jim Cumpston (1928-37), long-time old Haleians’ Association treasurer.
In 1979, the Parents’ and Friends’ Association donated the curtains that were pulled around the organ. These are no longer in the chapel.
Over the years, further donations have been made to the Chapel of St Mark, some replacing initial ones. These include the which was made by Year 12 Students in 2006 under the guidance of Head of Design and Technology and Faulkner House, TJ Steenkamp.
[LINK TO PDF]
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The northernmost and smallest stain-glass window, which incorporates the Greek letter forming the symbol for Jesus, was a gift from the parents of Graham “Goog” Parker (1960-68), young Old Boy killed in a motor bike accident in Kings Park.
The long southern window was the gift in 1979 from Quinton Stow. In the swirling patterns of light and dark blue and green can be seen the symbol for Christ.
The centre window was a bequest from the late Brian Simpson (1924) supplemented by an anonymous Old Boy. Brian Simpson who died shortly before the consecration of the Chapel had been greatly involved in its planning. Designed by Marshall Clifton himself who was an old friend, it was installed by Gowers and Brown in 1972 with glass from Italy. Its ‘glorious explosion of colour’, symbolises the Holy Ghost The three windows together constitute a unity in trinity, depicting Jesus the man, the holy ghost and the eternal God.
In the school’s archives is a Book of Hale School Confirmations from 1960-1968. The first page of which is devoted to the last confirmation service at St Mary’s Church, West Perth for Hale Boys, the second is at Hale School, Wembley Downs. The collection also includes the Register of services 1969-1978 and 1978 -2001, and eight Marriage registers from 1969-2013.
[insert digital copies of pages, [2020.1949- 2020.1959].
Under the pastoral care of Father Tom Couper, the Chapel today is used for worship by the students during the week, the borders on the weekends, baptisms, weddings and funerals of members of the Hale community.
It still provides a place of sanctuary and worship for the Hale community, continuing to look out over the City of Perth- linking the faith with the mission of the school – to send boys out into the world, able to see beyond the material in the prosperity of this age.
