Maria Fidelis Explained

Maria Fidelis Catholic School FCJ
Coordinates:51.53°N -0.132°W
Motto:Growing together, through Christ, with courage, confidence and dignity
Founders:Marie-Madeleine d'Houët
Type:Voluntary aided comprehensive
Religion:Roman Catholic
Head:Mark Anthony
Address:1-39 Drummond Crescent, London
Postcode:NW1 1LY
Dfeno:202/4652
Urn:100055
Ofsted:yes
Lower Age:11
Upper Age:18
Nickname:MF

Maria Fidelis Catholic School FCJ is a Roman Catholic co-educational secondary school in the London Borough of Camden, England. It was founded by the Faithful Companions of Jesus.

History

The school was founded in 1830 by the Faithful Companions of Jesus, or more specifically, their founder, Marie-Madeleine d'Houët. Just months after the school's opening, Marie later realised she could not keep running the school and passed the role of headteacher to Julie Guillemet, a friend of hers and FCJ sister.

It was at first an industrial school financed by charitable appeals. The school then progressed to being a convent boarding school and then to a selective non-fee paying grammar school known as St. Aloysius.

The school then became a comprehensive in 1974 with the merger of St. Aloysius with St. Vincent's Schools which was run by the Sisters of Charity. The name Maria Fidelis was chosen by the Sisters meaning Mary Most Faithful.

Maria Fidelis today stands on Drummond Crescent in the Somers Town area of Camden, near Euston.

The school won BBC's 'School Choir Of The Year' and are known for their vocal arrangements under the direction of Karen Gibson. The choir performed for Pope Benedict XVI at The Big Assembly at St Mary's University College, Twickenham on during his visit to the UK.

Since, the school admits boys as well as girls, in co-education.

Current Building

The High Speed 2 rail network's planned route was to go through North Gower Street, the location of the school's previous building.[1] This meant the school was required to move locations to Drummond Crescent, nearby to Euston Road. Work began on the site in [2] and the school started moving in, before its official opening in .

Notable alumni

External links

Notes and References

  1. https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-england-london-20493709 HS2 compensation for Camden 'not enough'
  2. News: 13 January 2017 . HS2: Work to build new Maria Fidelis School begins . Camden Council . 29 November 2017.