Our History
The Right Reverend Doctor Cecil Henry Druitt
Bishop Druitt College takes its name from the Right Reverend Doctor Cecil Henry Druitt, M.A., D.D. who served from 1914-1921 as the first Bishop of the Diocese of Grafton. Cecil Henry Druitt was a godly man who believed deeply in the potential of the younger generation. Educated in Bristol, England in 1880 he read the Old Testament directly from the Hebrew. He was awarded a Master of Arts in 1901 and a Doctor of Divinity in 1911.
A lecturer at St Aidan's College Birkenhead, Dr Druitt was appointed Coadjutor Bishop of Grafton and Armidale on the 6th of August 1911. The Diocese of Grafton was formed in 1914 and Dr Druitt was elected Bishop on the 26th of March. A diabetic, the Bishop continued to work despite his increasing ill health. When he could not stand up he delivered many sermons from his chair and had a sign placed at Grafton Racecourse asking the question “What will win? Come to the Cathedral at 3 o'clock and find out". He travelled to the Lambeth Conference in England in 1920 but died the following year, not long after his return to Grafton.
Bishop Druitt College
Bishop Druitt College was the brainchild of Ken Langford-Smith, Headmaster of The Armidale School and Father Stephen Pullin, Rector of St. John's Anglican Church Coffs Harbour. Among others, they decided that an independent Anglican college would be a success in Coffs Harbour.
After much preparation, land was purchased in the North Boambee Valley in 1993 and building began. The College opened in 1994 with 57 Primary students and this number grew rapidly to 100 students by the end of the year. In 1995 the Secondary School opened in newly built classrooms. Since then development has been rapid with the student body growing to around 1200 in 2011, with some 150 teaching, administrative and property maintenance staff.
The College aims to educate students within a Christian framework, providing quality teaching, excellent facilities and a wide program of activities all focussed on the full development of the individual. The School has quickly gained an enviable academic record, has become a leader in Music, Drama and Art, and has a varied sporting program. Bishop Druitt College is one of six Anglican schools on the North Coast from Taree to Tweed Heads.