Upper School students gather three times each week at the beginning of the day for a time of worship and inspiration in the Memorial Chapel. Supporting the vision of the Rev. Dr. D. Bruce Macdonald to develop men of strong and well-rounded character, the Chapel seeks to assist students to develop in spirit.

The service includes the singing of a hymn, a reading, prayers and a meditation. Respecting the variety of faiths now represented in the Andrean community, the focus of the service is on themes common to people of good faith everywhere, such as the development of good character and expressing that character in caring for others and our world.

Hymns are from the St. Andrew’s Hymnbook, which is a collection of Christian hymns chosen for their inclusive content, as well as traditional hymns sung throughout Andrean history.

The readings are usually from the Bible, but may also be from other major faiths, as well as secular sources. The readings are often read by student readers.

The meditations are usually presented by the School Chaplain, the Rev. Bruce J. Roffey. However, frequently students, such as the Prefects, and faculty members, as well as other guest speakers, provide the meditation.

One of the highlights of the year is the Carol Service held in Toronto at Yorkminster Park Baptist Church. Rehearsals are held during Chapel in November and early December.

Other special services include:

• Thanksgiving Prayer Circle held with the whole school on the quad
• Remembrance Day
• National Day of Rememberance and Action on Violence Against Women
• Cadet Inspection
• Prefect Announcement Service
• Prize Day

Another service not held on campus is the Cadet Church Parade, which is held at Our Lady of Grace Roman Catholic Church in Aurora.

The Chapel is under the direction of the Rev. Bruce J. Roffey, School Chaplain, and Mr. John Clements, School Organist.

Chapel services have been central to community life at St. Andrew's College since its founding in 1899. Founded by Presbyterian clergy and laymen, St. Andrew’s is dedicated to offering a solid education “in a manly spirit of Christianity” developing “the complete man, the well-rounded citizen” by “encouraging a healthy balance in mind, body, heart and spirit.”

When the Rev. D. Bruce Macdonald became Principal (later Headmaster) in 1900, he began to build the School with the philosophy of the Thomas Arnold of Rugby School, that character development was the objective of all education. Accordingly, his idea of education consisted of the study of the classics, along with sport, the Prefectorial system and “religion, to provide an ethical system for life as a muscular Christian.”

Dr. Macdonald carried the pastoral responsibilities of Chaplain himself. He conducted morning services with readings from Scripture and prayers. “Evening prayers took place after the evening meal. He conducted a Bible Class on Sunday afternoons at 3:00 p.m. All the boarders were expected to attend the church of the denomination to which their parents belonged.” There was a Sunday Chapel service at night where Dr. Macdonald preached.

Over the decades, the religious life at St. Andrew's has accordingly changed. There has been a succession of Chaplains of various denominations, and the services have become more responsive to changes in society, becoming less formal and including debates, discussions, concerts and student sermons.

Today, as the student body has become more religiously diverse, elements from other faiths, prayers and readings have been added. Efforts have been made to make the time more inclusive of the whole community, by encouraging involvement by both students and teachers.

Throughout the history of St. Andrew’s, chapel services have been conducted in a variety of venues, including the billiards room of the original Chestnut Hall in Toronto. When the move from Rosedale to Aurora was being planned, the construction of a Chapel was included in the original plans. However, the Memorial Chapel was not completed until 1931, five years after the School opened. Services were held for five years in a section of the library, which was set up like a meeting hall.

Sir Joseph Flavelle, then Chairman of the Board, contributed $70,000 toward the building of the Chapel. It was designed by E. H. Paisley, formally of Marani and Paisley the School's original architects. It is in the Georgian style and modeled on the churches of Sir Christopher Wren with a twisted red brick steeple 94 feet high. A portico with heavy stone pillars stands at the west front. The entrance is framed in plain stone with the Jesuit motto, "Ad maioram Dei Gloriam" ("To the greater glory of God") above the door. It seats about 300. The interior is simple and dignified, with large windows providing an abundance of light. The chancel is panelled with walnut and gum-wood. It is called the Memorial Chapel in memory of the 113 Andreans who gave their lives in the First World War. A commemorative tablet bearing their names was originally placed in the chancel close to the communion table.

The foundations of the Chapel were laid in March 1930, and it was consecrated on Sunday, May 10, 1931, before it was completely finished. Canon Cody took the first service and dedicated the Chapel. Master Percy Robinson read the names of those who had died (then 104 names). The Headmaster, the Rev. D. Bruce Macdonald, preached about common responsibilities to which the ideals of the Chapel point.

Following the Second World War, another commemorative tablet was added to the Chapel with the names of the 45 Andreans who died in that war. The First World War tablet was moved from the chancel so that the two tablets were on either side of the chancel. Later during the tenure of Headmaster Tom Hockin, a large fabric hanging, which included stylized figures reaching up to God and the decussate cross of St. Andrew's in the background, was hung over the communion table.

At the back of the Chapel are flags representing the various countries from which Andreans have come from over the years. In the corner is the flag of the #142 St. Andrew’s College Highland Cadet Corps. Throughout the Chapel are plaques memorializing people who have contributed significantly to the Andrean community, along with memorabilia from the First World War.

Excerpts from Sunday Evenings at St. Andrew's College

Rev. D. Bruce Macdonald, SAC’s second Headmaster (1900-1935), compiled a selection of Chapel addresses delivered to his students over his more than 35 years as Headmaster. The advice and inspiration revealed in Rev. Macdonald’s book, Sunday Evenings at St. Andrew’s College, has remarkable congruency, applicability and timelessness to today’s Chapel lessons given by Rev. Bruce Roffey, SAC faculty, students and guest speakers.

On Character, Reverend Macdonald wrote:
“In the last analysis, your success or failure in life, the position of worth which you may occupy in the world, your possession of happiness, your power of service and achievement will depend upon the quality of the character which you slowly develop as day follows day.”

On Leadership, Reverend Macdonald wrote:
“Indeed the influence of the Upper School on the Lower must always be great, even if the youngsters are only allowed to look on. Therefore, set a pace worthwhile, you older boys, since the hope of the future must always rest in the generation coming on.”

and On Learning, Reverend Macdonald wrote:
“You are at school not merely to learn of books, to go from Form to Form, and finally to matriculate. You are here not only to play football or whatever game it may be. These things are very good in themselves, but, if you are wise, you will regard them as but means to a greater end.”

The daily Chapel service is a community event requiring a standard of deportment based on respect for self and for others. Students are asked to demonstrate attentiveness, politeness, and appropriate regard for the values and convictions of their peers, members of staff and guests.

All students must attend Chapel when scheduled to do so. The steeple bell for Chapel rings five minutes before the service is to commence.

The following guidelines are an important part of the St. Andrew's tradition:

• An awareness of both the dignity of the Chapel and the rights of fellow students requires mature and disciplined behaviour. The Chapel is pre-eminently a place for meditation. The Chapel is a memorial to Andreans who gave their lives in World War I.
  
• Maturity and good judgment are shown by participating in the hymns.
  
• Punctuality is politeness.
  
• The hymn books are School property and should be treated accordingly.
  
• School Prefects are responsible for the deportment and atmosphere within the Chapel. Students have a responsibility to respect the Prefects in ensuring an appropriate atmosphere within the Chapel.
  
• Students enter and leave the Chapel in an orderly manner as dictated by the School Prefects.
  
• The moment a student enters the Chapel, silence is an expectation.
  
• Attention to the speaker is an essential mark of respect.

SCHOOL HYMN

(tune: Ellacombe 76. 76. D.)

Lift up your heads, ye gates of brass;
Ye bars of iron, yield;
And let the King of Glory pass;
The Cross is in the field.
That banner, brighter than the star
That leads the train of night,
Shines on their march, and guides from far
His servants to the fight.
 
Then fear not, faint not, halt not now;
Quit you like men, be strong;
To Christ shall all the nations bow
And sing the triumph song/
Uplifted are the gates of brass,
The bars of iron yield;
Behold the King of Glory pass;
The Cross hath won the field.

(Notice that line two of the second verse is the School Motto.)

THE DR. GEORGE BRUCE CHAPEL PRIZE

Awarded in memory of the Rev. Dr. George Bruce, founding Headmaster of St. Andrew's College, to students who, through commitment and service, have made an outstanding to the life of the Memorial Chapel.