English Martyrs school celebrate their Golden Jubilee

Tomorrow will mark 50 years since the blessing and official opening of English Martyrs school building at St. Mark Street. 
Today we celebrate our Golden Jubilee year with Fr Alex blessing the school. 

​Our school building was acquired by Father J O’Boyle in St. Mark Street in 1969 during the Centenary Year of the Parish.

The building was designed by Broadbent, Hastings and Todd who were known for their work in designing churches and schools for the Roman Catholic Church.

Did you know Broadbent also restored Tyburn convent?

It was opened and blessed on 20th June 1970 by His Eminence Cardinal John Carmel Heenan - exactly 100 years to the day when the foundation stone of the old school was laid.

Cardinal Heenan in procession to open the new school in St Mark Street

But our school history goes back much further than that ...

The school was established in the nineteenth century as part of the Tower Hill Mission to serve the needs of a large, deprived Catholic community who lived and worked in the East End and expanding docks area.

The school, then known as Tower Hill School, began operating from a temporary corrugated iron structure that also housed a church and parish centre.
​On 12th December 1866, Cardinal Manning blessed the building and it was dedicated to the English Martyrs.

Saint Thomas and Saint John Fisher - The English Martyrs

From these humble beginnings, the school was moved to nearby Chamber Street, where four women, dedicated to working with the poor, set about teaching the children in the school by day, and adults at night. The Holy Family Sisters arrived in April 1870 and continued providing education for adults and children, before it had become compulsory for all.

In 1870, Tower Hill School’s foundation stone was laid by Princess Marguerite of Orleans in the presence of the Duke of Norfolk, Count Denbigh, Earl of Granard and the Marchioness of Londonderry. 

150 years later, we are delighted to celebrate 50 years of education in our school building.

"We are special people on a journey, growing and learning together in
​search of excellence, as we follow in the footsteps of Jesus"

---