Initial Problems

Holy Cross Era

New Era

Message from the Headmaster

Campus Tour

THE ERA OF THE HOLY CROSS CONGREGATION

The invitation of the Holy Cross Brothers to St. John’s was in answer to the poor staffing problems in the school. The arrival of the first batch of three Holy Cross Brothers via Takoradi harbour in December 1957, Bro. Rex. Hennel, C.S.C., Bro. Eduardo Michalik, C.S.C. and Bro. Donald Allen, C.S.C. marks an important turning point of the history of the school. Bro. William Gates, C.S.C.and Bro. Jerome Chandler, C.S.C. arrived at St. John’s in September, 1958.

Bro. Rex Hennel assumed the post of Headmaster on 1st January, 1958 when Mr. F. K. Buah left the school and with more staff drawn from the Holy Cross Congregation and financial donations from America and from the Archdiocese of Cape Coast St. John’s School gradually took its present shape. The first year of Bro. Rex Hennel’s headmastership saw the completion of the library block, the science block and the Brothers’ House. In 1961 the Old Dining Hall (presently the City of God and the Staff Room) and three staff bungalows were built. In 1962 St. Joseph’s Juniorate, the first dormitory (Dolan Hall), two more staff bungalows (financed from the Brothers’ salaries) and the football field were constructed. The Government acknowledged the valuable work being done at St. John’s by allocating money for the erection of the Sixth Form block in 1964. Work on a second dormitory (Archbishop Porter Hall) and the present Chapel started in 1965. The dormitory was ready for use in 1966 and the Chapel (Holy Cross Chapel) which took four years to build was blessed in 1969.

The Headship of the school went to Bro. Jerome Chandler in 1963 when Bro. Rex Hennel took seriously ill. He ably filled the post of headmaster until 1967 when he returned to the United States. The third and last of the Holy Cross Headmasters was Bro. Frederick McGlynn who managed the school until 1973 when he left for St. Augustine’s College, Cape Coast, to join the staff. He is known everywhere as a great mathematics teacher. He has since retired from teaching and returned to the United States.

The period of the Brothers of the Holy Cross can be regarded as the glorious phase and years in the history of St. John’s School. The staffing position was good, accommodations for both Brothers and African tutors were available and financial assistance was forthcoming and generous because of their efforts. Those were the days when needy students could be catered for and schools from far and near could come to St. John’s for laboratory chemicals and instruments. Academic standards were very high and discipline at its best. With the increase in student population, difficulty in providing housing accommodations for staff, lean finances and gradual dwindling in the number of Holy Cross Brothers engaged in teaching in the school, the hey-day (high days) of St. John’s were over.