Traditions

In 1873 the welcome to the New College examiners came to an end. Nevertheless, in the same year the Lord Chancellor, Lord Selborne, was received in similar style. In 1881 the practice of Ad Portas was formally revised, and that is the pattern we use today. It became from that time the highest honour that the College bestows. A significant feature of the revision was the inclusion of the ‘Oratio ad Portas’ by the Aulae Prae i.e. the Prefect of Hall (Senior Scholar).

A ceremony that has enjoyed such a curious history of necessity, formality and contrivance inevitably has at times given honorands pause for thought, particularly when they were expected to reply to the Prefect of Hall’s speech in Latin! There have been forty-nine Receptions Ad Portas since 1873: in the course of these there have been eighteen responses in Latin, one in Latin and Greek, twenty in English, one in Marathi and ten in English and Latin.

The ceremony takes place in Chamber Court and the whole community attends.

View photographs from the most recent Ad Portas (30th April 2008) »

View the programme and list of honorands and read the speeches »

View a film of the occasion made by Fiona Smith and Stuart Watson »   

          

Eton and Winchester Evensong

     
Every year our ancient institutions’ chapel choirs join to sing Evensong together. In one year Eton travels to Winchester and in the other vice-versa. At Winchester in recent years we have sung in cathedral as the Chapel was not designed for such large choral forces.

View photographs of the last Evensong which took place at Winchester in October 2008. 

     

Evensong

Every Tuesday during term, Evensong is sung in Chapel at 17.30. It is open to the public. The Chapel Choir is contemporary with the founding of the School and has had the good fortune to have been directed by some outstanding musicians in the past and at present by the Director of Chapel Music, Malcolm Archer assisted by Paul Provost on the organ. The sixteen boys who make up the treble line (Quiristers) are still funded as originally intended by William of Wykeham. The older voices are sourced by Music Scholars and staff. 

    

Founder's Obit

Originally four days were set aside each year for commemorating the founder and the anniversary of his death. Each of these days included leave from lessons and a service known as Amen Chapel but these days this is a whole School gathering in Cathedral on or near the day of William of Wykeham’s death. 

Illumina 

At the end of the autumn (Short Half) term and in particular at the end of lessons at 16.45, the community is greeted by the enchanting sight of candles covering the expanse of the enclosing wall of Meads. (See the photograph at the top of this section.) A bonfire is lit, carols are sung, mince pies and punch are served and parents and boys and staff all gather together for the last time before Christmas and the New Year.

The ceremony, a recent one in the School's history, in fact marks the removal of the wall separating Commoners from Scholars in 1862. Only the Scholars had access to Meads (from 1790) through the narrow passage between School and Cloisters. Commoners lived in the brick building on the north side of Meads and their playing area was restricted to a small triangle of grass. Just before the wall was removed Commoners celebrated the occasion of the wall's imminent demise by putting lighted candle stubs in the holes where mortar had decayed and where flints had fallen out. Undoubtedly new holes were made. Old candle stubs which had accumulated over the year (candles provided bedside lighting in the upstairs chambers of College until 1934), were eventually used for the whole length of the mediaeval walls of Meads. These days the candles have to be bought for the occasion.

    

Induction of Scholars

A procession of the Warden, Headmaster and Second Master enters School. The Master in College introduces each Scholar to the Warden who then admits the Scholar using the Latin which has been used for centuries. Once inducted the Scholar rises and bows to the Warden to show his acceptance of the Warden’s authority and his willingness to uphold the Statutes. 

This is a private ceremony attended only by the relatives of the Scholar. 

    

Medal Speaking

View an account of this ceremony »

The photograph in the centre right is of one of the medals.

    

Morning Hills

This ceremony theoretically takes place twice a year in the ‘dry’ (i.e. summer and autumn) terms and was begun by Dr Fearon in 1884 in order to emphasize the School’s historic right of access to and use of Hills. The whole School, dressed ‘up to Books’ except for footwear, ascends St Catherine’s Hill. On the slope just to the west of the maze names are called, followed by prayers, a psalm, the Lord’s Prayer and The Grace.     

Other ceremonies such as Remembrance Sunday, the raising of the Union flag on certain days, the raising of the Warden’s flag when he is in residence, special College ceremonies and House traditions, Winchester and Wykeham days are part of the nature of Winchester. ‘Tradition’ is not always easily defined as some examples are quite recent but they are, or become, markers along the road of life. They respect the past and give us all a sense of continuous history. If for no other reason, they remain a vibrant aspect of Winchester life.