Perseverance School

The Perseverance School, Kimberley, was founded as such in 1883 but might be seen as having arisen from the St Cyprian's Mission School dating back to the early 1870s. Until 1917 it was officially called St Cyprian’s (E.C.) Mission School, although known as Perseverance from 1884. For part of its history it was referred to in the plural as Perseverance Schools, after a teacher-training section was established; and latterly the name applied principally to the teacher training college, Perseverance College, in Barkly Road, Kimberley.

The first Rector of St Cyprian's Church, Kimberley, Fr John Witherston Rickards, is credited with starting the St Cyprian's Schools, including a Mission School which was a forerunner to Perseverance. By 1877 two mission schools existed – one at Du Toit's Pan and another at St Cyprian’s. 35 “African” and “Eurafrican” pupils attended the two schools.

The Mission School moved to 'Old St John's Hall' in Clarence Street in 1883. The principal was Mr J. Lean, who was assisted by his wife. The Perseverance Schools '75' anniversary booklet published in 1958 mentions that the institution started with just two teachers and a handful of pupils, although other sources suggest 200 pupils, 70 of whom were communicants. Fr John Darragh, who later founded St John's College in Johannesburg, taught at the Mission School in 1883.

1884 Canon Gaul, the Rector of St Cyprian's, used the name “Perseverance”, determined that the school should not close, as other St Cyprian's schools had. The church meant to “stick to it”. The name stuck, although officially until 1917 the school continued in fact to be the “St Cyprian’s (E.C.) Mission School”.

In 1891 Mr V.G. Teychenné became the principal, serving Perseverance in this capacity until 1924. To generations of students his initials, V.G.T., came to signify “Very Good Teacher”.

At the time of Teychenné’s appointment there were 130 students, rising to 150 in 1906.

The school moved to Lawson street in 1905, moving into purpose-built quarters.

In 1913 Bishop Wilfrid Gore Browne transferred ownership of Perseverance from St Cyprian's Cathedral to the Diocese of Kimberley and Kuruman.

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Wikipedia