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Home --> Exhibits --> 2010 --> Bishop England High School

Bishop England High School

Exhibits - 2010

BISHOP ENGLAND HIGH SCHOOL

Calhoun Street Facilities, c.1950

Founded:  1915

 

In order to satisfy the Charleston Catholic community's hopes for a higher parochial education reality, Reverends Joseph L. "Doc" O'Brien and James J. May established Catholic High School as a department of the Cathedral School in September 1915.There were 67 students enrolled with a faculty of six; three diocesan priests and three Sisters of Charity of Our Lady of Mercy (OLM).


First Graduates, Class of 1918

In 1916, Mrs. Thomas Fortune Ryan donated property at 203 Calhoun Street to meet the needs of the growing student body. The school moved to this location and was officially named Bishop England High School in honor of Charleston's first bishop.
The Bishop High School Campaign was kicked off in 1919 to raise money for a new building.
Bishop England High School Campaign, 9-14 June 1919
Students in front of the new Calhoun Street facility, c.1922 Ground was broken on July 5, 1921 and the new facility was opened on February 18, 1922.

 

 

 

 

 

1828 Men's Basketball Team

 

 

 

 

1938-1939 Women's Basketball Team

 

 


 

Home Economics, c.1940

 

 

 

 

 

 

 
Msgr. O'Brien at the 1948 Father O'Brien Gym Dedication

 

After serving 32 years as the school's first Rector, Msgr. O'Brien retired and was followed by a former Bishop England High School Student, Msgr. John L. Manning.  That same year, the west wing was built, and in 1948 the east wing was built, housing the Father O'Brien gymnasium.  Additional land was acquired in 1957, and a two story annex constructed.

 

 

 

In 1959 another former Bishop England High School student, Reverend William J. Croghan, was appointed as the third Rector of the school.  Additional property was purchased in 1963 and 1964, including locations on Coming, Calhoun, and Pitt streets. The 1964 school year began with the fourth Rector, Reverend Robert J. Kelly, and enrollment grew to nearly 800 students.

 

 
In 1968, Immaculate Conception High School and Bishop England High School were merged and the former Immaculate Conception facility on Coming Street became the freshman building.  In 1976, a former church building at 172 Calhoun Street was purchased from the College of Charleston to house the growing freshman classes. Most School Spirited, 1973
No Uniforms!! Tag Day, 1988 After adding four modular units in 1993, it became clear that relocation of the school was necessary.  In September 1995 Bishop David B. Thompson officially announced the school would move to Daniel Island.  Construction began in 1996.  In 1998 Nicholas J. Theos retired after 25 years of service to Bishop England High School and Mr. David Held, who was serving as associate principle since 1997 became the new principal.
With the help of students, staff, faculty, and volunteers, the school was moved to the new campus in the summer of 1998.  To this day, Bishop England High School is the largest private Catholic four year high school in South Carolina.

Daniel Island facility, c.1999
*Exhibit created by Jennifer E. Neal
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