Another Chapel and Heritage Fund success

Over the years the Phillips gates have come to mark the symbolic journey from pupil to Old Breconian after the annual Leavers' Service. Originally dedicated to the memory Dr John Leoline Phillips on 17 May 1953, the gates couldn’t be a more appropriate ‘portal’. 

New Old Breconians. J L Phillips (centre) Summer 1899. After the Leavers' Service Summer 2023. Christ College Archive. 

‘JL’, as he was often known, was both a pupil (School House 1892-1899) and Headmaster (Head 1921-1931) at Christ College. Though a keen sportsman at school, he was noted more for his academic success, which culminated in a Classical Scholarship to Keble College, Oxford. After service in the First World War in the Royal Army Ordnance Corps, he taught at St Paul’s, London before his appointment as Headmaster at Christ College, succeeding his former Headmaster, Rev. R H Chambers (Head 1895-1921).

His Valete in The Breconian of 1931 shows the regard in which he was held.

Dr. Phillips came to Brecon as Headmaster at an interesting moment. To his task he brought energy and imagination, and he can look back on a crowded and vivid 10 years with much attempted and with many triumphs both scholastic and athletic. Seldom have more boys passed from the School to the greater Universities, and many of these with valuable scholarships, than in this decade. Very rarely has the standard of Cricket and Football been higher. Christ College has assuredly pulsated with life in these years and has widened its interests and taken a more conspicuous place in the public gaze.

Dr. Phillips will be also remembered among Breconians for another reason; his keenness in raising funds and zeal in judicious restoration of our ancient and historic buildings, which for poverty of endowment and because of the long war period needed overhauling. The great work done in redecorating the Chapel was the culmination of this care for the past, and generations yet to come will be grateful for what Dr. Phillips did in making our always beautiful Chapel a still more beautiful and fit place of worship.

In these and many other ways we owe a debt of gratitude to Dr. and Mrs. Phillips, such as we cannot easily repay. Boys who have been at School under them will look back, not only on many happy days of vigorous life, but on real and solid help given towards their entry into the fuller life of the world. Mrs. Phillips has always taken a full part in our Social activities : she has been the life and soul of the School, and has never spared herself for its welfare. We part from her and Dr. Phillips with deep regret, with grateful memories, and with every good wish for their future happiness and prosperity.

It seems entirely fitting that seventy years after it was dedicated, restoration of the Phillips gates has been enabled by donations that support the heritage that Dr Phillips was so instrumental in maintaining. Our heartfelt gratitude goes to all those who have so generously supported the Chapel and Heritage Fund.