Second 50 Years l Third 50 Years l Fourth 50 Years
The Magnificent St. Anthonys College, Kandy, the Oldest Established school in the Hill Capital of the Island is proudly celebrating 167 years of it’s flourishing existence, marking another memorable milestone in its remarkably incomparable history, in the year 2021.
Looking back considerately, at this uniquely unmatched 167 years & counting existence of the college, one cannot overlook the immense contribution it has made to the country by producing thousands of very productive loyal & patriotic citizens in all walks of life ranging from politicians to teachers, international sportsmen, highly successful business tycoons etc,
THE BEGINING :
Sri Lanka, then Ceylon was an Independent rich & self sufficient Monarch under number of Sinhalese Kings for thousands of years. It came under attack for the first time in history by Europeans in the 15th Century, and the beautiful maritime areas fell into the hands of Portuguese in 1505.
Thus since then, the Roman Catholic Church successfully managed to establish themselves in the Maritime areas of the Island. In 1820 the superior of all the Oratorians in Ceylon, Vincent de Rozairo, established himself in kandy as the first official missionary.
Their sole intention was spreading their religion in all countries under the rule of British Empire.
Before the Europeans invaded the Island Nation, Under the rule of the Sinhalese Monarchs, the Education system in Sri Lanka was mainly centered through Buddhist temples.
In 1820, Vincent de Rozairo constructed a church on the same grounds where the present Scots Kirk stands. In 1828 the Scots Kirk location was considered hilly and also too small. Thus a petition was drafted and submitted to the Governor – General Sir Edward Barnes stating the issues, and he promptly offered the Catholic Church a new much spacious site which was almost a square in shape 152 ft. by 150 ft. The missionary managed to build the second Roman Catholic Church on this land.
This was the initial step of these Roman Catholic Missionaries to start establishing themselves to spread the religion in the cradle of Sinhalese Buddhist civilization in the Subcontinent. The Kandan Kingdom was the holy basin of Buddhist which protected the Tooth Relic of Lord buddha placed in a Golden Carket protected in a heavily guarded Palace separately built for the Tooth Relic surrounded by mountains.
The St. Anthony’s Cathedral in Kandy town stands today on this premises as another Magnificent historical structure. Eventually, the missionary priests realized that by simply building magnanimous beautiful churches is not productive for them in spreading the religion. The Catholic missionary work started in 1820 .
They studied the native system in Sri Lanka and understood that the Local Education system is based through Buddhist Temples and thus it is difficult to change their mindset which has been groomed by Buddhist priests to live following Buddhist philosophies.
Thus they too planned to establish Education systems under Catholic Churches.
In 1843 September , Rev. Fr. Oraazio Bettachchini an Oratorian from Italy, was appointed in Kandy by the Church. Starting his missionary work, he opened a small school on this new premises in 1843/44. But sadly in 1844, his successor Rev. Fr. Reinaud, appointed in August 1844, commenced his job by demolishing and closing down the School established by Rev. Fr. Oraazio Bettachchini. Rev. Fr. Reinaud, noted that the reason for this, as a letter of complaint forwarded by Fr. Bettacchini himself.
Then in 1854 Rev. Fr. Felice Zoppi, a Franciscan priest of the Chinese Missionary field was sent to Kandy replacing Rev. Fr. Reinaud. Incidentally He was on his way back to Europe, from his missionary work in China. And his route was diverted by Monsignor Joseph Maria Bravi D.D., O.S.B. who was Coadjutor to the Vicar Apostalic of Colombo, to be the missionary in charge of Kandy, on behalf of Rev. Fr. Reinaud. But he was specifically instructed to follow up on a complaint made by Rev. Fr. Bettachchini regarding some School erected before 1853.
He immediately started operations by opening three new schools. An English Medium Boy’s School and a Girl’s School, and an Anglo–vernacular School.
The first Person to be in charge managing the School was Mr. Van Twest.
The English medium School for Boy’s & Girl’s established to cater English speaking local high class families and Foreigners under the British Monarch serving as Civil Servants in Sri Lanka, including Businessmen, Planters etc,… and the Anglo vernacular School for local families
This was the birth of the 167 year old Magnificent St. Anthony’s College Kandy. Rev. Fr Zoppi then obediently informed Mgr. Bravi through Fr. Leone Cingolani, of the successful opening of the schools. But it is noted that the message was never delivered. Then Rev. Fr. Zoppi wrote to Mgr. Bravi who replied on 12th March 1854, officially acknowledging the opening of these schools.
Though it’s noted that being a Franciscan prist, Rev. Fr. Zoppi chose an illustrious Franciscan Saint, Anthony of Padua, as the Patron of the School to name the School, evidence prove that the Church was dedicated to St. Anthony long before that.
The number of students enrolled at the inception in 1854 was 62 Goys and 28 Girls.
In 1856 September, Rev. Fr. Zoppi had to officially leave the Island for missionary work in other countries. The School Administration was taken over by Mr. Paul Poorey in 1855. He is well remembered for his hard word contributing immensely to the extraordinary efficiency and prestige the school enjoyed in its initial years.
Mgr. Bravi who is responsible in sending Rev. Fr. Zoppi to Kandy in 1854, had been closely monitoring the improvements. Since then for the last one hundred and sixty seven years College had endured many hardships, experienced high achievements as well as downfalls, to be still battling in current exalted status producing educated sporty productive citizens for the Nation & the world.
As a Catholic Parish School, the Catholic Church had a huge issue in lack of priests to carry out the missionary work. Thus there were hardly any priests to be stationed in the school to take over the Administration of the School.
Thus the church had to decide to hand over the responsibility of Administering the School to laymen principals till 1870 for 14 long years. Following 6 Laymen Principals thus subsequently managed the institution till the church received a priest for the post.
- M/s. F. Peiris
- F. De Silva
- K.A. Fernando
- A. Staples
- A.B. Geddes
- O.D. Paul
By then Catholic Missionaries had established many such Parish schools to spread their religion all around the Globe in countries under the British ruled empire. There were thousands of students worldwide competing in common British examinations.
St. Anthony’s College Kandy became the “SECOND BEST SCHOOL IN ENGLISH‘ “among all the schools established by the Missionaries throughout the entire world in 1867. This was a huge achievement for a School just 13 years Old.
Irish Christian Brothers (Rev. Bros. Paul & John) Managed and Administered the school in 1870 to 1875.
Rev. Fr. Dom Hilderbrand Vanderstraaten OSB took over the reigns of the college as the Principal in 1875 to 1876.
Rev. Fr. Dom Paul Perera OSB succeeded Rev. Fr. Dom Hilderbrand Vanderstraaten OSB in 1876 to 1879.
Rev. Fr. Maurus Craner, OSB who took over the Administration in1877 and managed the Institution till 1879.
By the end of 1879 secular teachers took over the management of the school with the Benedictine Fathers. Mr. R.P. Jansz as the Head Master from 1880 to 1892 for over a period of twelve years.
* The Magnificent buildings of the St. Anthony’s Monastery which was built in 1875 by Rev. Fr. Cingolani was demolished and rebuilt as the present St. Anthony’s Cathedral in 1877 by Rev. Fr. Cingolani himself again.
* Boarding life was first introduced in College in 1876 , and there were 5 boarders living in the College hostel by 1887.
* The Total Population of School had grown to 92 by 1887.
* St. Anthony’s College was split into two to create a separate Girl’s School in 1887. – Good Shepherd Convent Kandy.
THE FIRST SPLIT OF COLLEGE IN TO TWO UNITS :
In 1887 the mixed Gender school, was divided into two Schools as Girl’s School and a Boy’s School separately. The Girl’s School which was named “GOOD SHEPHERD CONVENT KANDY” was established in Katukele which was under the administration of Good Shepherd Nuns.
Thus St. Anthony’s College Kandy became a boy’s only School since 1887.
* Year 1892 marked a new era Starting a legacy entrusting the Administration of the College to monks of Sylvestro Benedictine monks continued till today.
Rev. Fr. D.H. Leitan OSB was appointed as the Principal after 12 years of management by Laymen. Since then Sylvestro Benedictine monks established themselves in and around the College till today providing an unbroken line of OSB Priests as Principals to St. Anthony’s College.
Also the OSB Congregation still continue the legacy and tradition in appointing several more qualified OSB Priests to assist the Administration and functioning of the system.
Thus along with Rev. Fr. D.H. Leitan following priests too were appointed to College for administration as well as teaching.
Dom Hildebrand Georgesz, Dom Patrick Mckelvie, Dom Dominic Direckze and for a short term a Benedictine Father from Scotland, Rev. Ryan whose brothers were in charge of several tea plantations in Sri Lanka.
* Purchasing the Property in Kandy town, behind the St. Anthony’s Cathedral.
The famous “Philips Coffee Store” next to St. Anthony’s Cathedral was purchased by Abbot Prancrazi in 1894, which was initially used for establishing the Boardhing School, but later was fully utilised for the School.
With almost 100 students inhouse, theses students were encouraged to do sports and thus “Barrack Square” was used with an understanding for Anthonians to practice various sports.
*Rev. Fr. D.H. Leitan OSB was then succeeded by Rev. Fr. M.Craner OSB in 1898 who continued till 1906.
Rev. Fr. Leitan was famous to be a heavy workaholic. Sleeping only for around 4 to 5 hours a day, he managed to cover a huge load of work of Principal, Teacher, Prefect of Boarders, Accountant, Clerk etc, all by himself.
He constructed new spacious buildings in the new plot of land for the boarders. Thus the Boarding which housed around 15 boarders in a room under the belfry, was expanded to have over 50 Students.
READ THE NEXT CHAPTERS
Second 50 Years l Third 50 Years l Fourth 50 Years
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References for this Article was from :
enacademic – https://enacademic.com/dic.nsf/enwiki/7431828
St. Anthony’s College OBA Website – http://www.sackoba.com/college_history.html
St. Anthony’s College OBA Website – http://www.sackoba.com
https://m.facebook.com/sacksl/about
http://sack.lk/history3.html
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/St._Anthony%27s_College,_Kandy
http://www.island.lk/2004/03/12/featur03.html
http://www.antonian.org.au/Article_Our_Alma_Mater_160yearson.pdf
www.sackoba.com/college_history.html
