St. Christopher's School (Richmond, Virginia)

St. Christopher's School
St. Christopher's Winter "Initium Sapientiae Timor Domini"
Location
Richmond, Virginia United States
Information
Type	Private School
Religious affiliation(s)	Episcopal
Established	1911
Faculty	150[1]
Grades	Jr. K - 12
Enrollment	952[1]
Campus size	8.6 acres
Campus type	Suburban
Color(s)	Red and Gray
Mascot	Saints
Newspaper	The Pine Needle
Yearbook	Raps and Taps
Feeder schools
St. Christopher's School
U.S. National Register of Historic Places
Virginia Landmarks Register
Location	711 St. Christopher's Rd., Richmond, Virginia
Coordinates	37°34′49″N 77°31′16″W / 37.58028°N 77.52111°WCoordinates: 37°34′49″N 77°31′16″W / 37.58028°N 77.52111°W
Area	8.6 acres (3.5 ha)
Built	1911
Architect	Baskerville & Sons
Architectural style	Colonial Revival, Classical Revival
NRHP Reference #	02000183 [2]
VLR #	127-5995
Significant dates
Added to NRHP	March 13, 2002
Designated VLR	December 5, 2001[3]
Website	http://www.stchristophers.com

St. Christopher’s School, founded in 1911, is a college preparatory school for boys (junior kindergarten through 12th grade) located in Richmond, Virginia. A program of coordination with nearby St. Catherine's School allows a broader selection of courses at the Upper School level, taught in coeducational classes on both campuses. The school puts emphasis on its honor code and on the importance of community, as well as educating "the whole boy" through athletics, the arts, and morning chapel.

History

Dr. Churchill Gibson Chamberlayne founded St. Christopher’s School in 1911 as The Chamberlayne School. On June 11, 1920, a system of church schools was established by the Episcopal Diocese of Virginia, at which time The Chamberlayne School was renamed St. Christopher's School.^[4]

Headmasters

1. Dr. Churchill Gibson Chamberlayne (1911–1939). Note: Dr. Robert Wylder Bugg bridged the gap after Dr. Chamberlayne's death on April 2, 1939, and before Dr. Williams was able to contractually step in at the start of the 1940-41 school year.
2. Dr. John Page Williams (1940–1951)
3. Dr. Robert Wylder Bugg (1951–1964)
4. Warren P. Elmer (1964–1973)
5. George J. McVey (1973–1997)
6. David Hicks, Interim (1997-1998)
7. Charles Stillwell (1998–2016)
8. Mason Lecky (2016–)^[5]

Athletics

St. Christopher’s School belongs to two athletic associations, the Virginia Prep League and the Virginia Independent Schools Athletic Association (VISAA). St. Christopher's has longstanding athletic rivalries with Benedictine High School, Collegiate School and Woodberry Forest School.

The wrestling program, considered one of the best in Virginia, held a current streak of 11 consecutive Prep League and state VISAA championships.^[6]

Notable facilities

Academic

• McVey Hall (Lower School)
• Wilton Hall (Middle School)
• Chamberlayne Hall (Upper School)
• Gottwald Science Center
• Murrell Bookstore
• Luck Leadership Center
• Ryan Hall

Athletic

• Kemper Athletic and Fitness Center
• Bolling Field House
• Scott Gymnasium
• Knowles Field

Arts

• Playhouse Theatre (Black Box style theater at St. Christopher's School)
• McVey Theatre and Dance Studio (at St. Catherine's School)
• Grace Branch Moore Fine Arts Center (St. Catherine's)

Student publications

• The Pine Needle (Newspaper)
• The Pine Needle Online (Web-based Newspaper)
• Raps and Taps (Yearbook)
• Hieroglyphic (Arts Journal)
• The Oak Needle (Satirical Newspaper)
• Paperboy (Middle School Online Publication)

Accreditations and Memberships

St. Christopher's School is accredited or a member of the following organizations:

• National Association of Independent Schools (NAIS)^[7]
• Virginia Association of Independent Schools (VAIS)^[8]
• National Association of College Admission Counseling (NACAC)^[9]
• International Boys' Schools Coalition (IBSC)

Notable alumni

• Penn Badgley (born 1986), actor in television series Gossip Girl
• Mason Bates (born 1977), composer
• Brent Bookwalter (born 1984), professional cyclist, Tour de France contender in 2010
• Harry Easterly (1922–2005), President of the United States Golf Association
• Henry Hager, husband of former First Daughter Jenna Bush
• Dean H. King, novelist
• G. Manoli Loupassi (born 1967), politician, member of the Virginia House of Delegates
• A. Donald McEachin (born 1961), politician, member of the Virginia Senate
• Don Mancini (born 1963), filmmaker, producer, and director
• Chris Peace (born 1976), politician, member of the Virginia House of Delegates^[10] and Executive Director of Historic Polegreen Church Foundation ^[11]
• Robert Pratt, professional football player
• Ted Price, CEO of Insomniac Games
• James Harvie Wilkinson III, federal judge serving on the United States Court of Appeals for the Fourth Circuit
• Martin Williams (1924–1992), jazz critic
• Monk Willis (1916–2011), LBJ political adviser, regent for the University of North Texas
• Tom Wolfe (born 1931), novelist

References

1. "St. Christopher's School". privateschoolreview.com. 27 October 2012. Retrieved 19 November 2015.
2. National Park Service (2009-03-13). "National Register Information System". National Register of Historic Places. National Park Service.
3. "Virginia Landmarks Register". Virginia Department of Historic Resources. Retrieved 19 March 2013.
4. http://www.stchristophers.com/podium/default.aspx?t=17646
5. "St. Christopher's School - Announcing the 7th Headmaster of St. Christopher's School Mason Lecky". stchristophers.com. Retrieved 19 November 2015.
6. , additional text.
7. "Pages - School Information". National Association of Independent Schools. Retrieved 2016-07-27.
8. "Virginia Association of Independent Schools -> VAIS Schools -> Search for a School". www.vais.org. Retrieved 2016-07-27.
9. "Institution/Organization Member Directory". www.nacacnet.org. Retrieved 2016-07-27.
10. "Biography • Chris Peace". chrispeace.com. Retrieved 19 November 2015.
11. "Home -- Historic Polegreen Church Foundation". historicpolegreen.org. Retrieved 19 November 2015.

External links

• St. Christopher's School