The Genesis

A Short Authoritative Archival History Of the Genesis Of the CMS Grammar School and its National and International Ramifications
By Egbert Malamah-Thomas.

In the early 19th Century the influx of liberated African youths into the Sierra Leone Settlements was a constant worry for the Lieutenant Governor and Her Majesty's Government.To avoid this worry it was necessary to find productive avenues for these unfortunate youngsters.

Loud Representations were made but only the CMS responded. They founded primary schools in and the Settlements e.g. at Regent Bathurst, York, Gloucester,etc. The Knowledge imparted was very limited and the indigineous people voiced their dissatisfaction. They adopted a rallying cry " educate the boys properly and all things will be added into him and society".

Again the CMS responded at a meeting held by the local Committee on 1st January 1845 it was decided to acquire the Government building at Regent Square, Freetown for Six Hundred Pounds Sterling. At a special meeting on 15th January 1845 chaired by the Rev. C.V.F. Ehemann it was resolved that the Regent Square was suitable for the intended Grammar School. Secondly,in order to enable the Rev. Thomas Peyton to enter immediately into"important duties assigned to him", the parent committee of the CMS advised that the advance sum of  Nine Hundred Pounds sterling be offered for the purchase of the "desirable premises". Also that the terms proposed by Lieutenant Governor Fergusson for the same be accepted. A contract was quickly executed for the immediate conveyance and occupation of the "desirable premises". Exchange of contracts was speedily followed by completion. At a CMS meeting held at Bathurst on 4th March 1845 under the Rev. C.V.F. Ehemann it was resolved that the Rev. Thomas Peyton commence the Grammar School at Regent Square House. Thus the school was born!!

At this junction let it be known the word REGENTONIAN originated from Regent House, bought by the CMS in 1845 and not from the Mountain Village.

The Grammar School was thus founded for the purpose of giving young men and boys of Sierra Leone and of the adjacent settlements and the sons of native chiefs, a higher course of education than that afforded in Common Day Schools. The leading aim was to cultivate alertness and vigilance, hardiness of mind, simplicity of character and plainness of manner, indispensable qualification of every young person. Thus the school was founded not only for superior education of boys, but also for their edification. Bad-mannered pupils were temporarily excluded from the school, followed by expulsion if there was no improvement.

After a few years of establishment, boys form all over Africa and the West Indies were admitted. In 1870 at the measure and team celebration of it's Jubilee there was a mixture of faces from the very dark, to the very white. There were different categories of pupils Palour Boarders, others Boarders and Day pupils; each category had its own rate of fees. Lesson started early at 7am. for the administrators believed that " it is very healthy to rise at daybreak", and they were given a thorough religious grounding, it was a passport to success and prosperity in life- it was a status symbol. Ex-pupils were eligible bachelors and parents were proud to have them as son-in-laws.

The principals at that time were revered men who occupied a high place in Sierra Leone Society. The school was not only a centre of excellence, but ironically produce men who helped to perpetuate the British Colonial Policy of Indirect Rule.

Extract from "The Regentonian-Sesquincentenial Special Edition"