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What is the connection between the De la Salle Brothers and Bournemouth Churches?
Historically they are, and have been linked for many years and even today, a few remaining De La Salle Brothers can be seen attending early morning mass at Corpus Christi Church.
The answer is that for many years, the Brothers taught the pupils at St. Peter's school and many of today's congregation at Corpus Christi were educated by the Brothers.
St. Peter's school was originally opened on the 29th September 1936 with a total of 34 boys.
Father Bellanti was the first headmaster and the school was run then by Jesuit Priests.
This continued until the summer of 1947, when, due to other commitments, the school was handed over to the De la Salle Brothers.
The professional success of the Brothers can be seen from the fact that in 1950, there were 15,000 De la Salle Brothers and they were the largest teaching Order in the world. They taught in schools in many countries of the world.
From the time of the first De la Salle Headmaster, Brother Bernard Brady in 1947 until the last, Brother Bernard Hayward in 1993, the De la Salle Brothers improved, enlarged and ran the school with great success.
It was during this time that they oversaw the important integration of the combining of the St. Peter's, St. Thomas More and the Boscombe Convent.
De la Salle Headmasters.
- Brother Bernard Brady 1947 - 52
- Brother Aldhelm Augustine 1952 - 58
- Brother Elwin Gerard 1958 - 64
- Brother Celsus Edwin 1964 - 66
- Brother Alan Maurice 1966 - 71
- Brother James Walworth 1971 - 73
- Brother Lawrence Charles 1973 - 76
- Brother Bernard Hayward 1976 - 79
- Brother Ralph Sherwin 1979 - 80
- Brother Bernard Hayward 1980 - 93
The complete story of the Brothers involvement in St. Peter's School has been published by
The Highmoor Press - Bournemouth. The book is entitled 'St. Peter's - Independent Days.'
It covers the period 1870 until 1980 and is a 'must' for any former pupil.
It is expertly researched and written by T. S. Smith with a forward by the late Brother Wilfred Thomas.