Winchester
The House
The House system in St Andrew's was inaugurated in 1953 with just three Houses - Canterbury, Salisbury and York. Winchester House was established in 1977 as the School enrolments increased. The first House captain was R A Bramley. Since its instigation Winchester has taken on the many facets of the House system and furthered the pastoral care of the School.
The Cathedral
For many centuries Winchester Cathedral was the capital of England being located south-west of London. This great cathedral church (the second longest in Europe) was begun in 1079 and completed within 30 years of the Norman Conquest by Bishop Walkelin, the first Norman Bishop, and dedicated in 1093.
The Cathedral is associated with many famous Anglo-Saxon leaders such as Egbert, first King of all Britain, King Alfred, King Canute and William of Wykeham, who was twice Chancellor of England and founder of Winchester College and New College, Oxford.
The lavishly illuminated Winchester Bible was written in the scriptorium between 1160 and 1180. The burial caskets of Canute and other early British kings reside at the Cathedral along with Izaac Walton and the novelist Jane Austen.
The Nave/Crypt
In the longest medieval Cathedral surrounded by spectacular architecture, Winchester incorporates outstanding works of art and is a centre for fine church music. The crypt, an evocative part of the Cathedral that regularly floods in the winter months, forms the perfect setting for Antony Gormley's statue, Sound II.
The Winchester Bible
The Winchester Bible is the finest of all the great 12th century bibles. A single scribe wrote out the entire bible in the Latin of Jerome. The initials at the beginning of each book of the bible were drawn and coloured by a team of artists over a period of 20 years. The colours of gold and lapis lazuli are as intense today as they were 800 years ago.
The Pilgrims' School
The Cathedral affiliated school is called The Pilgrims' School. It educates 22 choristers of the Cathedral including 16 quiristers (the Chapel choir boys of Winchester College). The School operates in a similar situation to St Andrew's as is centrally associated with the Cathedral but retains its operational independence with its own board of governors. Pilgrims' School enrols about 200 boys.
