HISTORY OF CALCUTTA BOYS’ SCHOOL

The origin of The Calcutta Boys' School is closely linked with the establishment of
the Methodist Episcopal Church ( now the MCI) in India. The Calcutta Boys’ School is
a Christian Minority Anglo – Indian English Medium day school under the control and
authority of Bengal Regional Conference of the Methodist Church in India, managed by
the Calcutta Christian School Society (Regd). In 1874 Rev. Mills Thoburn succeeded
Rev. Dr. William Taylor, the famous evangelist known for establishing the first
Methodist Church in Zigzag Lane, Calcutta. It was Bishop J. M. Thoburn who founded
The Calcutta Boys’ School in March, 1877 with 6 children.
James Mills Thoburn was an American Bishop of the Methodist Episcopal Church best
known for his missionary work in India. He reached India in December 1859, setting
foot on Indian soil for the first time at Babughat, Calcutta. Preaching in both the native
and European languages, James’ missionary zeal pioneered remarkable growth of the
Methodist Church in India.
March 1877, (at the behest of a Roman Catholic gentleman) he initiated the education
ministry of the Methodist Church in Calcutta, founding two sibling schools :
The Calcutta Boys’ School (CBS), founded by James Mills Thoburn in March 1877.
Calcutta Girls’ School (CGS) acquired by him in August 1877.
When the Calcutta Boys’ School was founded by Bishop Thoburn in 1877, it was first
located on the rear veranda of the Thoburn Church Personage located at 46,
Dharamtalla Street. The School acquired its own building at the current location on S.
Banerjee Road in 1893, largely due to the generosity of a man who could be regarded
as the chief patron of the School Sir Robert Laidlaw. Sir Robert Laidlaw donated the
land and erected the Main building in 1893 and the Renfrew in 1902.
The House System was inaugurated in 1916. The names of the Houses were THOBURN
(Red), LAIDLAW (Green), WARNE (Light Blue) and PRITCHARD (Dark Blue). Bishop F.
W. Warne, a Canadian by birth, arrived in Calcutta as Pastor of the Thoburn Methodist
Church in 1818 and played an active role in social work in the city and also sustaining
CBS in its early years as a board member and thereafter as Chairman from 1900. In
1933 HENDERSON (Blue) House replaced Pritchard House in honour of Reverend
George S. Henderson, an eminent Pastor of Thoburn Church and found a Chaplain
of CBS, and the colour of the WARNE House was changed from Light Blue to Gold.
In the list of Principals two great names stand out – Mr. H. C. Fritchley and his son-in-
law, Mr. C. Hicks. Mr. Fritchley was a teacher of the school since 1912. In 1933, he
assumed the office of the Principal of the school. The Middle Building, erected in 1962,
has been named The Fritchley Building to commemorate the dedicated services of Mr.
Fritchley.
In 1953, Mr. Clifford Hicks, a teacher and Headmaster of CBS, took over as a
Principal. During his tenure of 22 years, Mr. Hicks became the legendary figure in the
field of education. He was nominated as Member of West Bengal Legislative Council in
1967. If he is remembered for raising the school to a high level in terms of academic
results and strict discipline, he is also remembered for his inspiring Chapel messages.
Ex – students fondly refer those days as the ‘Golden Days of CBS’. The school library
has been dedicated to the memory of Mr. Hicks.
Under the leadership of present Principal & Secretary, Mr. Raja McGee, The Calcutta
Boys ‘School has extended beyond its mother campus and its branch campuses were
established at Sonarpur in 2008, Beliaghata in 2010, in Asansol in 2015 and at
Shantiniketan Bolpur.
IMPORTANT SCHOOL EVENTS