College – Issue 34

DEVELOPMENT OFFICE 2018 Annual Appeal

The 2018 Annual Appeal is underway and this year our aim is to restore the Dining Hall Gallery.

Thank you A big thank you to everyone who donated to the Annual Appeal in 2017. With your help we raised $88,904, of which most went to protecting the Chapel windows. The Piper window was removed, reset, and then restored to its original state. Other funds raised from the appeal were used at the Executive Principal’s discretion. One such allocation has included the appointment of former College English teacher and author Joe Bennett as College writer-in- residence. Thank you again to everyone who supported the appeal.

This beautiful gallery, commonly known in architectural terms as a Minstrels’ Gallery, is situated high up at the southern end of the Dining Hall. In its day, it was used by House matrons and tutors to have lunch or dinner, and as a space to host special events. We plan to restore this important part of College history and bring it back to being a functional dining space, a place where musicians can play and other events occur, while functions are held below in the Dining Hall.

removed and repaired, the floor was relevelled, and the outside finials taken down and repaired. A rich history The Christ’s College Dining Hall was built in 1925 as a memorial to the Old Boys and Masters who died in World War I. It was funded by money raised by Old Boys (£23,000 raised; total cost to build was £27,000). Commonly known as the Book of Memories , the beautifully illuminated volume The Record of Service of Old Boys and Masters in the Great War , has returned following restoration. This has enabled us to reinstate the turning of a page at formal lunch.

From inside the hall looking up at the gallery

The Piper Window

The finishing touches Many hours and resources have been spent upgrading the Christ’s College Dining Hall. Despite previous earthquake strengthening, the Dining Hall did not escape unscathed in 2011. Both of the beautiful bay windows had to be

College Head Prefect Max Goodwin turning the page of the Book of Memories

Joe Bennett, former College English teacher and new writer-in-residence

Christ’s College Canterbury

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