Church Farm School

History

The school was founded in 1918 by Charles Shreiner. Shreiner, an Episcopal clergyman, established the school in Glen Loch (now Exton) Pennsylvania, on Route 30 (Lincoln Highway), as a boarding school for boys from single parent homes, primarily those without fathers. The sons of clergy, members of the armed services, and police officers were a second focus of the school in its early days. Shreiner, because of his strict belief in the importance of discipline and a strong work ethic, was known to the boys as the "Colonel."

Shortly after its founding, the school acquired the Benjamin Pennypacker House property. The school integrated in 1963. After Shreiner's death in 1964, the Board of Directors placed the School under the direction of his son, Charles Shreiner, Jr., a World War II veteran, who served until retirement in 1987. The school's third headmaster, Charles "Terry" Shreiner, III, the founder's grandson, led the school from 1987 and retired in 2009. The School was then led by an interim headmaster, Thomas Rodd, Jr., who was replaced by Edmund K. Sherrill II, an Episcopal clergyman, in July 2009.

Over the first half of its history, the School's campus grew to 1700 acres, on which a large farm was operated with the help of the students. Each boy was required to work half of each school day and full-time for half of each summer. This enterprise included a large dairy farm and hog raising operation and produced many crops. The agricultural activities were gradually phased out, beginning in the mid-1970s, with most of the remaining farm land being sold off to developers in the late 1990s. The dairy barns and silos remain as a memorial of the agricultural era of the school's history.

Present day

Presently, the School's academic program is designed for boys in grades 9-12 denominated in the Anglican style as Third through Sixth Forms (a "Junior School" consisting of grades 5-6 was phased out in the late 1960s and First and Second Forms (grades 7-8) were recently eliminated as well).

The school offers a college preparatory education, including honors and Advanced Placement classes. The school's classes are small, 7-12 students on average. An enclosed bridge called the Link connects the main building, known as Greystock, to the Science, Math and Art building, known as Wilkins. An underground tunnel connects the school side to the cottage side of the campus, allowing students to bypass route 30.

Boarding students live in ten home-like "cottages." In 1995, the school opened its doors to day students, who now comprise 20% of the school community. The school is affiliated with the Episcopal Church, with an Episcopal clergyman ("Chaplain") leading weekly chapel services for the school community. Despite this affiliation, there is no religious restriction on admissions.

Arts

The school provides a curricular arts program. The CFS Choir regularly sends members to all-district, all-region, and all-state festivals, and has traveled to Germany and South Africa. The professionally led CFS Jazz Band features an eclectic mix of students and instruments and regularly performs on campus and in the community. Students may also pursue advanced music studies in music theory, technology, appreciation, history and sociology, and musicianship. Piano and instrument lessons can be made available to interested students.

School arts facilities include a full fine arts room and clay studio, with on-campus kiln. Students can participate in a host of general and advanced arts classes, including clay, pottery, 2-D design, 3-D design, digital photography and weaving. Students exhibit work in monthly showings in the Link Gallery on campus. Outstanding art students may take an independent study in art, culminating in a solo showing of their work.

Additionally fine arts classes include photography and woodworking. The school has a large building with woodworking machinery.

Athletics

Students compete in ten interscholastic sports, including golf, cross-country, soccer, wrestling, basketball, winter track, baseball, tennis, and spring track and field. The School competes in the Pennsylvania Interscholastic Athletic Association (PIAA) in District 1 and is a member of the Bicentennial Athletic League (BAL).

CFS's athletic facilities include four soccer fields, an on-campus cross-country course, a fencing room, two baseball fields, a quarter-mile outdoor track, a field house for basketball, six tennis courts, an outdoor swimming pool for recreation, and a multipurpose athletic pavilion.