To amend or update
information on this page,
click here to
e-mail to RC-Churches

Holy Cross School, the name under which Corpus Christi School was known for many years, was founded in1888 by the Religious of the Cross of St. Quentin. Sisters of this order had arrived in England from France in 1871 but at a time when there was widespread opposition to religious orders being engaged in educational work.

Nevertheless, the Sisters were encouraged by the Bishop of Southwark and the Jesuits who had come to Bournemouth in 1869, to settle in Branksome Wood, where they later opened a boarding school for girls.

In 1886 they took a house in Parkwood Road as a temporary Convent and set about the task of purchasing an area of about four and half acres of land between Parkwood Road and the boundary of the Wentworth Estate. The land was to be the site of the new convent and school and the foundation stone was laid of the 6th September 1888.

The new school opened with the help of Baroness Pauline von Hugel and under the charge of Mother Costello - with about six to eight pupils - Mary Culverwell, William McArdle and the four Lamberts - Blanche, Lily, Ruth and Fred.

Early in 1889, the school was moved to a large house named Trevone, near the junction of Parkwood and Harvey Roads. This has since been demolished.

To provide a site for a permanent school, Mrs James, gave the Sisters a half acre of land between the Convent and St. James Square and the building of the Holy Cross school was started in the summer of 1889, with the foundation stone being laid on Friday 16th August 1889.

The school was intended to take about 100 pupils and from the beginning was independent of any official assistance and was maintained by the Sisters. The Education Act 1891 provided for an additional grant of ten shillings (50p) a year for each child between the ages of three to fifteen years of age.

There were many events that occurred during the early days of the school. On the 18th February 1895, the school was closed to enable teachers and children to attend the funeral of the Mother Superior of the Convent. The new Mother, Mother de St. Preux visited the school on the 8th March and the visit is recorded of Father de Lapasture.

Extra holidays were given on the 24th May in recognition of the birthday of Queen Victoria. Miss Doyle, the Head Mistress, resigned on the 14th June and Mother Lyons took charge for the rest of the summer term.

Visitors to the school again included Baroness Pauline von Hugel, Father de Zuluetta SJ and the Superior general of the Nuns.

After the summer holidays, Miss Helen Cunliffe took charge as head Mistress. Father provincial of the Jesuits and Father Cooney SJ visited the school on the 28th October. It was also noted there were over fifty children in one class.

And 23rd June 1897 celebrated Queen Victoria's Diamond Jubilee and Cardinal Vaughan, Archbishop of Westminster spent a few days in Bournemouth and visited the school on the 1st April and visited the Convent later on the 23rd April.

The school celebrated the relief of Ladysmityh on the 1st March 1900 and the 23rd May there was a day's holiday for the Relief of Mafeking.

The new Bishop, Mgr. Cahill, visited the school on the 13th March 1901.
A fortnight later, on the 29th March, Baroness Pauline von Hugel, part founder and benefactor of the school died and on the 1st April the children attended her requiem mass in the church she had helped to build.

In July 1903, there were 173 children at Holy Cross, served by five full-time teachers and one part-time teacher.
On the funeral of King Edward V11 on 20th May 1910, there were special prayers and hymns.