History of Christ's Hospital School

Brief History

Christ's Hospital was the result of the vision of Edward VI, assisted by Nicholas Ridley, Bishop of London, and Sir Richard Dobbs, Lord Mayor of the City. Its genesis was the earlier dissolution of the monasteries and the resultant overflow onto the streets of the poor and destitute. Encouraged by a sermon from Ridley, exhorting mercy to the poor, the King wrote to the Lord Mayor encouraging him to action. This he did via a committee of 30 merchants. Henry VIII had already granted the use of Greyfriars to the City for the relief of the poor and Edward granted The Palace of Bridewell, his lands of the Savoy and rents and other chattels to create three Royal Hospitals – Bridewell, St Thomas and Christs, which was for the education of poor children.

The first boys and girls entered the School in Newgate in 1552. The Royal Charter was granted and signed by its Founder, Edward VI, the following year.

The School occupied Newgate as its major site for 350 years, but from time to time children were housed in other parts of the country, especially after the Great Fire made parts of the School uninhabitable. Eventually, the girls settled at Hertford and the boys were relocated from Newgate to the purpose built site in Horsham in 1897. The Foundation stone was laid by Edward, Prince of Wales on 23 October 1897, on behalf of the Sovereign, the date being the anniversary of the birthday of our Founder.

Christ’s Hospital was bestowed with its second Royal Charter by Charles II in 1673. This Charter specifically created the Royal Mathematical School whose original purpose was to train mathematicians and navigators who would progress into careers as Naval officers or merchant seafarers. Samuel Pepys, Secretary to His Majesty’s Navy and later Vice President of Christ’s Hospital, featured strongly in his considerable contribution to Christ’s Hospital

Over the centuries Christ’s Hospital has continued to enjoy Royal patronage. His Royal Highness the Duke of Cambridge started a tradition of Royal Presidents in 1854. In 1919 His Majesty George V became our first Royal Patron, followed by His Majesty George VI in 1937 and Her Majesty the Queen in 1953. The magnanimous support of the City of London Corporation and Livery companies of the City (some 20 actively support children in the School) remains uninterrupted. Christ’s Hospital remains true to its Founder’s principles of supporting disadvantaged children and by remaining a School for the public.

Christ's Hospital Today

The move to the 1200 acres at Christ’s Hospital was greeted with much consternation among Christ’s Hospital Governors, being at the behest of a Government commission. His Royal Highness the Duke of Cambridge was moved to say "I am one of those who are perfectly prepared to go with the spirit of the age in which we live, but I confess that I am also one of those who do not love change for change’s sake. To upset an old and long standing institution… is a very dangerous experiment to try."

The Hertford school for girls merged with the boys at Horsham in 1985 and hence Christ’s Hospital returned to its original co-educational roots. The Charitable Foundation staff, who had remained in Great Tower Street, London, moved to Horsham in 1987.

Distinguished living Old Blues include Sir Colin Davis, Alan Ryan, Ruth Deech, and Lord Simon. Distinguished deceased Old Blues include: Samuel Taylor Coleridge, Charles Lamb, Barnes Wallis and Edmund Blunden.