Commemorating the Goodfellow Centre
THIS BOOKLET IS BASED ON A HEARTFELT TRIBUTE MADE BY WARWICK BELL AT A DINNER EVENT HELD ON NOVEMBER 19, 2024, TO HONOUR THE LEGACY AND HISTORY OF THIS AREA OF THE COLLEGE CAMPUS.
Honouring the Legacy of Our Founders
Long before the building and spaces that house our College students today took shape, there was a shared belief—a belief that education could do more than impart knowledge. It could transform. It is a place with ample, conducive spaces for students to grow, to dream, to make lifelong friendships, and to discover their full potential.
This belief remains at the heart of our mission: to provide an education that inspires students to strive for excellence in all areas of life, for the glory of God and the service of others.
It has guided us through growth and transformation. Each building, each room, each facility has been a cornerstone in creating an encompassing environment where students, generation after generation, thrive. As the College evolved, so too have the spaces that house our students, continuously adapting to their changing needs. The Administration (Wingate) Block and the Goodfellow Centre, each in their time, served as purposeful spaces—designed to nurture, guide, and support both students, staff and the wider community.
The 1953 Trust Board
The Administration (Wingate) Block
A PLACE OF FIRSTS
The Wingate Block was the first building on this campus to house the administrative heart of Saint Kentigern College. It was here that the foundation Headmaster, Adam MacFarlan, set the direction of the school, welcoming new students and laying the foundation for an education grounded in values.
This building became the space where Senior Staff and Heads of Department worked to build a foundation of educational excellence, character, and support. The large library room, where the Headmaster led Divinity lessons for up to 60 boys, was central to the educational experience. And in its first proper staffroom, teachers collaborated to support the school’s population of 500 students.
Years later the areas were integrated and reimagined as the Goodfellow Centre, and the transformation allowed the building to continue meeting the growing demands of the school while remaining true to its mission. More than 70 years on, it continues to serve as the heart of the campus—a place where students and staff gather, share ideas, and engage in meaningful exploration, remaining a hub of knowledge and creativity, just as it was originally envisioned.
The MacFarlan Centre and the Sir William Goodfellow Memorial Library
Rod Biel, Christine Sloan, Warwick Bell and the 1987 Librarians
Year 12 and 13 Building
NEW CENTRE OF LEARNING EXCELLENCE
Each building, from the Wingate Block to the Goodfellow Centre, served a unique and equally meaningful purpose, supporting the changing needs of students, staff, and the community in its time. We are grateful to Mr. N L Macky, Sir William Goodfellow, Rev. A M L MacFarlan and Mr. N R L Toy, whose dreams, planning, and ongoing enthusiasm made these spaces possible, along with the continued generosity of those who helped bring their vision to life.
As the campus continues to transform to serve the demands of a growing school and a dynamic future, we look ahead to the new Year 12 and 13 building. Like those before it, this new space will serve as the vibrant heart of the campus, providing a purposeful environment where generations of students will continue to grow, thrive, and lead.
“2025 will herald a new stage of Saint Kentigern development on the site where over the last 70 years a College has been established and progressively developed. Its buildings have been notable structures appropriate for its size and stage of growth, and the educational needs and technology of the time.
As we look forward enthusiastically to the development of wonderful new College facilities, we also acknowledge that they replace significant structures, the Wingate Block and the Goodfellow Centre, that were important in their time and which have special affection in our memories. The facilities themselves were provided as part of the dreams, the planning and enthusiasm of our founders, and the generosity of those who made the funding of their dreams a possibility.
The educational, social and collegial experiences that have occurred within these walls have influenced a vast number of students, parents and teachers. In the 21st century, Saint Kentigern College is proud to have a magnificent, mature campus with facilities that meet the needs of education in a world vastly changed from its opening in 1953, yet remains true to Independent, Presbyterian principles of its founders.”
Warwick G Bell JP(ret) MA(Hons)
Saint Kentigern Historian | Student 560 | Teacher