Reflections of Havergal: 1994-2019

OVERVIEW

TABLE OF CONTENTS

WHOLE -SCHOOL TRADI T IONS

St. Paul’s Bloor Street Havergal has been part of St. Paul’s congregation since 1899. Its rector, Rev. Henry John Cody, was on the Havergal Board from 1904 until 1918 and twice served as Vice-Chairman. A plaque at St. Paul’s honours Ellen Knox, Havergal’s first principal.

“To Sing or Not to Sing” BTI , December 2010

For many years, the Upper School Carol Service was held in what is now Brenda Robson Hall on two successive nights: Grades 7 to 9 on the first night and Grades 10 to 12 or 13, the second. However, special occasions required a special venue, as Trilby Kent explains: “This event, which usually took place at Havergal, was staged at Roy Thomson Hall in December 1984 to mark the school’s 90th anniversary, an event that was repeated in December 1993 for the centennial celebrations.” However, given the increase in the number of students and the enthusiasm of parents and Old Girls who also wanted to attend the service, it became imperative to move the event to a larger venue. Since the beginning of the new millennium, Carol Service has been held at St. Paul’s Anglican Church, so that the community, including the Junior School, can come together—though it is still important to arrive early to ensure one gets a seat. All those who do attend know that they will be part of an event that is a masterful and moving blend of the traditional and the contemporary.

Carol Service program cover, 1994.

There are many other aspects of the service that remind the community of the school’s Anglican roots: the Bible lessons that herald or mark the birth of Jesus and the carols that the congregation is invited to sing. Differences from year to year are reflected in the choices of choral and instrumental music presented by students. Every year new pieces are drawn from across cultures and never fail to captivate an audience delighted by the music itself and the talent they witness. The more solemn pieces provide a time to reflect, but it is not unusual for the more festive pieces to set feet to tapping.

REFLECTIONS OF HAVERGAL  79