"THE CHAPEL SOCIETY"

Beginnings
On 7 May, 1983, the first wedding took place in the Chapel when Sue Burns married Steven Bowers and this occasion marked the beginnings of The Chapel Society. The Society was formed on the initiative of the then Principal, Sister Anne McGrath, following the School’s Centenary (1982) to assist in the care and maintenance of the Chapel in providing the enhancement it deserves. Its other basic commitment would be the supervision of weddings, however, much has followed to expand this original purpose.

The beautiful Chapel designed by John Horbury Hunt holds a special place in the hearts of all the School family. Click here (WMP)and take a tour of the Chapel (courtesy of Pastor de Lasala)

View from the choir loft

A notable feature of The Chapel Society is that many of the current members are foundation members who continue to donate their time, energy and efforts to help maintain and enhance this heritage-listed building. Especially appreciated are all the wedding supervisors, Sally Green and Helen Mooney, Sue Stribley, Brenda Carmody, and presently Barbara Buhagiar.

To date there have been approximately 450 weddings. This is an ongoing factor which benefits the School, not just in monetary terms but in raising the awareness and admiration of those present. This applies also to audiences attending the various performances by the students and concerts and recitals by musical groups and solo artists who are delighted by this sacred space and its acoustics.

Membership of the Chapel Society is currently 30, being 5 rscj, alumnae and friends.
The Chapel Society hosts 2-3 Concerts each year in the Chapel, and assists the Alumnae with other fund-raising functions.

Fund-raising for repairs and refurbishment to the Chapel exceeds $100,000 and some of the Achievements of this dedicated group over the past 23 years include:

• Professional cleaning and glazing of the brassware including all the vases and candle stands, the large urn stands and the tabernacle door.
• Provision of the carpet in the Sanctuary and aisle
• Re-plating of the plaque to the School foundresses at the entrance to the Chapel and placing of the small plaque on St Madeleine Sophie’s stall inside the Chapel (first on the right)
• Restoration of the 1882 painting of “Mater Admirabilis”
• Purchase and installation of the new microphone and p.a. system
• Professional cleaning of the Stations of the Cross
• Professional cleaning of the statues of Mary and Joseph
• Discreet electrification of the Sanctuary lamps and provision of padding along the kneelers of the benches. (The two latter were donated by the late Sister Leila Barlow and the late Kay Remond respectively, both foundation members of The Chapel Society)
• A much appreciated gift was from the Class of 2000 who donated the entire proceeds of their Vale Ball to endow the Chapel with a bronze medallion honouring its designers, Rev Mother Vercruysse and John Horbury Hunt, and to fund the restoration of the antique French reliquary of St Victor, martyr, in the Sanctuary, and the purchase of several sets of new vestments.
• Professional cleaning of the antique stalls and pulpit and repair of 26 seats and prayer book supports. This was made possible in part by a generous donation from the 2002 Vale Graduation Ball Committee.
• Professional restoration and cleaning of all 16 stained glass windows. Two large windows have been completed and 7 smaller ones. Our restorer, Heritage Decorative Glass of Moss Vale, will undertake repair and cleaning of one large and 2 smaller windows very soon. All will be progressively refurbished in order of priority of repair.
• Provision of cushions for all the benches – a combined gift of the Chapel Society, Parents & Friends Association, Alumnae Association and the School
• Repair and refurbishment of the altar vessels
• Purchase of new vestments as and when required.
• Restoration of the carved pulpit
• To commemorate the 125th anniversary of the Founding of the School (1882-2007) we have donated to the Religious of the Sacred Heart and to the School a collage of photographs (.pdf) from the School Archives of the Convent of the Sacred Heart in the rue de Varenne, Paris. When French anti-religious laws closed all the Convents in France in 1904-1909, the oak stalls and pulpit from the Senior Boarding Chapel were sent to the Rose Bay Chapel in 1904.

The Puget Organ
Our largest project, the restoration of the famous 1890 Puget Organ, a precious inheritance from the Sacred Heart Convent in Bordeaux, France, and an essential part of the Chapel, is well under way. Click here for more about the restoration. The organ was sent to Rose Bay by Reverend Mother Digby after anti-religious laws closed all 45 Sacred Heart Convents in France in 1904.

The entire organ was dismantled in January, 2005, and all its original casework and pipes sent to France. Restoration will be done by two separate organ builders. Yves Cabourdin of Carcès has restored the façade and casework and all the original 1890 pipes, re-made the 39 new façade pipes and new bellows. Charles Henry of Entrechaux, Provence will re-construct new windchests and a wind system, a mechanical action, and a replica Puget console. It is due to return in 2008.

Australian organist David Rumsey of Basle, Switzerland, was the Consultant to the project with Yves Cabourdin. The Consultant for the second phase of reconstruction (from October, 2006) is Michel Colin, French Organist and Expert in restorations of Historic Monuments. Michel Colin is titular organist of the Church of Notre-Dame de la Victoire in St. Raphaël. Pastór de Lasala, organist of Sacred Heart Church, Mosman, Sydney, is the Assistant Consultant to the Project.

I am extremely proud and honoured to be associated with all the members of The Chapel Society, whom I thank for their friendship support and collective wisdom. Their achievements are outstanding.
I want to pay tribute to all past Presidents, and to the immediate past President, Patricia Horsley, who continues to be involved in every way. Her wise counsel is sought frequently and freely given and she has devoted countless hours to the research of the history of the Chapel and its contents.

Ann Lynch Henderson, President, The Chapel Society E-mail: annhenderson@optusnet.com.au (Tel: +61 2 9418-8856)
(Ann is an Alumna of 3 Sacred Heart Convents: San Francisco, USA, Wellington, New Zealand, and Kincoppal, Sydney, 1957-1958. She spent 2 1⁄2 years in Rome, Italy and maintains close ties with the Alumni Association of her former School there, Marymount International School.)

Donations may be forwarded c/- 47 Moola Parade, Chatswood, 2067.
If you wish Receipt for tax deduction please make cheque payable to Kincoppal-Rose Bay School Building Fund – Chapel. If not please make cheques payable to Kincoppal-Rose Bay Chapel Society.