Bulawayo's Forgotten School: St Peter's Diocesan School, 1911–1977

St Peter's Diocesan School

1911–1977

by Matt Le Tutla

St Peter's Diocesan School was founded in 1911 under the influence of the Community of the Resurrection, Grahamstown, South Africa, and ran under a succession of leaders until 1977. This book traces the school from its beginnings to its closure, and much of it is told in the words of former pupils and staff.

“…that our daughters be as polished as the corners of the temple…”

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How the school began

This book is for anyone who went to St Peter's, anyone curious about life in a school in what was then Rhodesia, and historians of Bulawayo. Here is an extract on the school's foundation:

…The foundation of the School is directly due to the Reverend Mother Florence as a result of a request from the Bishop of Central Africa for an extension of their work in Zimbabwe [formerly Rhodesia]. After much earnest prayer two sisters were sent to Bulawayo in May, 1911, to prospect, and they were joined in the following month by two teachers, Sister Ethel and Sister Christian. The aim was to found a church school for European girls (St. Peter's Diocesan School) and an orphanage for European children (St. Gabriel's). The advance guard lived in the Bishop's Palace, a three-roomed wood-and-iron building. The original “palace” of one room was the gift of Cecil John Rhodes…

What's in the book

A list of all the headmistresses

A list of all the head girls

Extracts from the letters of the Mother Superior

Extracts from the Old Girl files

Old Girls' Association files

First-hand accounts from pupils

First-hand accounts from staff

An extensive photo gallery, 1919–1976

Topics covered

Bulawayo's historical background

Bishops Dozen

The early years: the foundation of St Peter's

St Peter's from 1917 to 1977

Eyewitness accounts from former pupils and staff

The birth of gymnastics at Spuds

Letters from the Mother Superior

Headmistresses and head girls

Miss A. E. Swart, 1967–1971

The Old Girls' Association

An Old Girls' Association member's eyewitness account

Old Girl news files

The St Peter's Parents' Association

St Peter's in the newspapers

Photo gallery: staff, pupils, sport, buildings and extracurricular activities

Student literary work: extracts from writing by the pupils