History of MCC Mat School
Located on a sprawling 16 acres campus in the heart of Chennai is the Madras Christian College Matriculation Higher Secondary School which enjoys the symphony of ambition, diversity and progress in the city where the sky touches the sea. “Education is the most powerful weapon which you can use to change the world.” True to the words of Nelson Mandela, our esteemed institution stands tall and lofty, serving the society for the past 25 glorious years and educating young minds to defeat ignorance and ignite knowledge. The corner stone of Madras Christian College Matriculation Higher Secondary School was laid in the year 1998 for the Glory of the Lord Almighty. This great school, the brain child of Dr. A. Jefferson Christopher (Former Headmaster and Correspondent of MCC Hr. Sec. School) was started as a feeder school to MCC Hr. Sec. School. In 2004 with a divine vision, the school ameliorated into Matriculation Higher Secondary School. Throughout these years with excellent infrastructure and playground, the school has grown to great heights nearly with a strength of about 1800 students and 100 staff members. The school takes pride in its rich legacy that it has witnessed over the years. From these portals, have emerged great men and women who are now well-placed in various parts of the world. In 2006 the baton of leadership was passed on to Mrs. Revathy Bonns who further led the school towards excellence with her innovative working methods. This happy and vibrant school opened its gates to welcome girls in its campus in 2010 and the co-education system was introduced. After her tenure, the mantle of leadership and responsibility fell upon the able shoulders of the current Principal and Correspondent, Mrs. Grace Sheela Victor in the year 2019. As an educator and a remarkable administrator, she encourages the students to form new ideas and take daring steps. She is the motivating force behind many innovative programmes in the school. Being an ardent environmentalist, she organizes nature camps for the students, helping them sensitize the need to conserve the planet. It is under her aegis that the school proudly celebrated its Silver Jubilee in 2022-2023. With a consistent foundation to improve in every sphere, the school steps into each new year with the hope of widening the vista of knowledge of the students. Since its inception, the school has produced brilliant Men of Grit across the wide spectrum of society over its history, for they were trained to head the action and never to beat a retreat, no matter what the field be. No doubt this school is reaping the rewards sown by the dedicated Scottish missionaries who built this institution from the ground up. Rev. John Anderson sent by the Church of Scotland was a pioneer of the early English education in South India. Following his lead, Rev. Dr. William Miller under whom the school was christened Madras Christian College, steered the school forward. The torch of light was then passed on to Rev. William Meston, Mr. Kuruvilla Jacob, Mr. D.S. Mathias, Mr. Savarirayan, Dr. Clement Felix and Dr. Jefferson Christopher who have played a vital role in enriching the roots of the organization by shaping the ethos and curriculum of the school. As part of this prestigious heritage, Madras Christian College Matriculation Higher Secondary School stands as a beacon of light and knowledge to every student who enters its portals.
After John Andersons’ death in 1865 the school passed through a period of decline until 1862 when Rev W. Miller (Dr. Miller) arrived as its saviour. Under his guidance the school grew rapidly and very soon the College department was started in 1867 and the first junior B.A. class was started for a period. During and after William Miller’s time the school which became the Madras Christian College School in 1867 was popularly known as Miller School. Some time after William Miller, at the beginning of the 20th Century followed another notable superintendent Rev William Meston. In 1931, Sri Kuruvilla Jacob joined the school as Headmaster and later held the position of both Superintendent and Headmaster. The college Department moved to Tambaram in June 1937, after which the school occupied the building that had been used by the College. However the location of the school in the busy and noisy commercial centre without adequate playgrounds was not satisfactory. A new site in Chetpet was therefore purchased and new buildings were constructed. Sri Kuruvilla Jacob and Rev. A.J. Boyd, Principal of the College from 1938-1956 were instrumental in shifting the school to its new and present site in June 1950.
In response to popular request a small hostel of 23 boys was opened in
June 1960 in Chetpet. This was under the supervision of the headmaster and two resident masters. This too has grown rapidly and today the Kuruvilla Hostel, opened in 1968 together with the new buildings accommodate about 200 boys Sri Kuruvilla Jacob retired in August 1962 after along record of service to the institution. Under this dynamic leadership it has been a happy and eminently progressive school, a home for
genuine education in the widest scene. Sri D.S. Mathias who succeeded Sri Kuruvilla Jacob in 1962, retired in April 1987 after 37 years of loyal, devoted and distinguished service. He played a dominant rule in the development of the school hostel from a very humble
beginning to its present enviable status. As its first warden, he nurtured it from its infancy in the year 1960 and saw it grow to
its present strength. Sri E.D. Savarirayan began his career in the Imperial Bank of India. His interest in the field of sports compelled him
to leave the Bank and join the London Mission High School, Salem, where he served 10 years. He joined this school in June 1948. He served as a teacher, then as an Assistant Headmaster and the first bursar of the school. He succeeded Sri. D.S. Mathias in 1967 as Headmaster.
During his tenure he was privileged to receive both the state and the national awards for his outstanding contribution in the field of education.
Sri D.S.Mathias was a man of simple ways, unostentatious living and high ideals.
He was loved and respected by the students and the staff. The new Physical Science Block is a standing monument of his untiring effort to provide more facilities and opportunities for the students and the teachers. He was an eminent teacher and an author. He retired in 1973 after a long and distinguished service. Dr. Clement J. Felix joined the school in 1963 and had the privilege of becoming the Headmaster and Correspondent of the school in 1973. During his tenure as the head of the institution, the swimming pool, the Auditorium, the Junior Higher Secondary Hostels, NCC Auditorium, new toilets and kitchen extension were constructed. He retired in 1992 after twenty nine years of altruistic service. Dr. A. Jefferson Christopher M.Sc., M.Ed., D.Min., D.D, joined this prestigious institution as a B.T. Assistant in the Department of Science on 16th June 1970 and became PGT Botany in 1978.
Later the management appointed him as the Headmaster, Correspondent and Hostel Superintendent in the year 1992. During his tenure as Headmaster, he was instrumental in setting up a Computer Laboratory with all modern technological facilities, Junior Science Lab, Basket Ball Court and foolproof compound walls along the railway track. After his retirement in May 2006, Mr. G.J. Manohar M.A.,M. Phil., M.Ed., had taken charge as the eadmaster of MCC Matric Hr. Sec. School which was started in 1998 as a primary and feeder school to the main school with classes from LKG to Std V. Due to public demand and parental support and the untiring efforts of the Headmaster, the primary school has risen to greater heights catering to the needs of Matriculation syllabus pursuing students. This brain child of Mr. A. Jefferson Christopher has now grown up to be a Higher Secondary School under the banner Madras Christian College Matriculation Higher Secondary School.