Monsignor Bonner and Archbishop Prendergast High School

Monsignor Bonner and Archbishop Prendergast High School is located in Drexel Hill, Pennsylvania. The school, which is part of the Archdiocese of Philadelphia, was originally two schools on one campus. In February 2012, the Archdiocese of Philadelphia announced that the two schools, Monsignor Bonner, the all boys school and Archbishop Prendergast, the all girls school, would be merged into one building.

More commonly known as Bonner, the all boys Catholic high school was named after Reverend Monsignor John J. Bonner. Monsignor Bonner was born in Philadelphia on November 2, 1880. In 1908, he entered St. Charles Borromeo Seminary and began studying at the North American College in Rome. On June 2, 1917, Monsignor Bonner was ordained in the Basilica of St. John Lateran on June 2, 1917 by Cardinal Pompilii.

After being ordained, Monsignor Bonner became an assistant rector of St. Bridget’s Church in Philadelphia. Two years later, In April 1919, he became the assistant principal of Roman Catholic High School in which he had formerly been a student. In August 1926, he was appointed Diocesan Superintendent of Schools and held that position until he died of a heart attack on November 27, 1945.

In 1953, the building that was formerly used as St. Vincent’s Orphanage became an all boys high school with the name Archbishop Prendergast High School. In 1956, a new building was opened next door and was named Monsignor Bonner. Bonner then became a school for boys and Archbishop Prendergast became a school for girls.

Archbishop Prendergast High School, also known as Prendie, was named after the Most Reverend Edmond Francis Prendergast, the third Archbishop of Philadelphia. Born in Ireland on May 5, 1843, he immigrated to America at sixteen years of age and entered Saint Charles Seminary. He was ordained at twenty-two years of age. On July 16, 1911, he was consecrated as Auxiliary Bishop of Philadelphia by Archbishop Ryan. Before his death in 1918, Archbishop Prendergast founded Saint Francis Country Home for Convalescents and Saint Edmond’s Home for Crippled Children. It was Archbishop Prendergast that was responsible for the construction of St. Vincent’s Orphanage, which would later be known as Archbishop Prendergast High School.

The land in which Monsignor Bonner and Archbishop Prendergast High School is located was originally owned by Christopher Fallon. In 1850, Fallon built a mansion on the site. In 1882, the mansion was bought by Colonel Anthony Drexel. The mansion was situated on what was then called the hill of Drexel and the area eventually became known as Drexel Hill. Sadly, the mansion burned to the ground in 1908 with only the gatehouse remaining.

...
Wikipedia