Anglican Church Grammar School (Churchie)

In 1912, the foundation for what is known today as the Anglican Church Grammar School was laid by Canon William Perry French Morris alongside his wife, who possessed qualifications in both science and medicine. They initiated the educational establishment under the name St Magnus Hall at Ardencraig, a suburban residence located in Church Street (presently Jephson Street), Toowong. The school underwent its first relocation in 1918 to its current location in East Brisbane. The school's patron, chosen by Canon Morris, was Saint Magnus, a Norse Earl, with the hope that students would adopt the moniker 'Magnates'. Although initially disapproving of the nickname 'Churchie', by the 1930s, the term had gained acceptance and respect across Queensland, leading Canon Morris to embrace it. Early in its inception, the school underwent several name changes; initially known as St Magnus Hall Collegiate School For Boys, it was soon renamed The Cathedral School in 1913 after moving to a new premises next to St John's Cathedral in the Brisbane central business district, where thirty-three boys concluded the academic year. In 1916, the school purchased the land where it currently resides, and in 1918, the foundation stone of the present site was placed. For the period spanning from 1916 to 1985, it bore the title Church of England Grammar School (CEGS). Reflecting the renaming of the Church of England in Australia to the Anglican Church of Australia in 1981, the school officially adopted the name Anglican Church Grammar School (ACGS) prior to the commencement of the 1985 academic year. Despite this official change, it is affectionately known by the wider community as Churchie.