Church Mission
St. Mary’s Anglo-Indian School was founded in 1839. It was the first school established by the catholic missionaries in the city of Madras. Year (2019-20) is the 181th year of its founding. Known as St. Mary’s Seminary and Day School for the first 44 years, the school had Rev. Dr. William Kelly of Maynooth, Ireland., as its Principal. In 1906, St. Mary’s was bifurcated into two separate sections: the European/Anglo-Indian section was named St. Mary’s European High School and the Indian Section, St. Gabriel’s High School, which was later shifted to Broadway. It continued to be under the management of St. Joseph’s Mill-Hill Fathers until 1928.
Salesian Presence in Education
In 1928, the mission of North-Arcot including Madras, was entrusted to the salesians, and Fr. Eugene Mederlet, became the first salesian principal of St. Mary’s. In 1945, Fr. George Patrick Whyte from Ireland assumed charge as principal and Correspondent of St. Mary’s School, ushering in a new era in the history of the school. Fr. Whyte’s service of 27 years for the school can rightly be called a saga of devotion and dedication to the service of youth.
Today, St. Mary’s stands out among the city schools for having often secured centum results in the Board Exams. St. Mary’s has a strength of 1770 students and 60 staff members. Together with the Management, they combine a complementary work-force with a vibrant work-culture in a healthy and growing family atmosphere. We hope that St. Mary’s will continue to forge ahead from strength to strength, following the motto ‘Viriliter Age’ – ‘Act like a Man’ and keeping the flag of St. Mary’s flying ever higher and higher.