Centennial
On April 1, 1918, The Rev. Dr. Charles Wesley Shreiner officially opened Church Farm School when five young boys from West Philadelphia bedded down on straw ticking in an old cannery. Over the next 100 years, Shreiner, his supporters and their successors worked tirelessly to accrue enough money and land to ensure that any young man of “academic ability and promise” could attend the school at little to no cost. The school sustained itself largely as a working farm until the early 1980s - students worked the farm half the day, and studied the remainder of the day. When the need for phasing out farming operations became a reality, the school made the decision to sell off most of its acreage and create an endowment for the future support of the school. Today, Church Farm School serves a diverse student body of 200 young men in grades 9-12 from the mid-Atlantic and around the world. Each comes to the school for an opportunity to fulfill their dreams of a better future; one still made possible by the generosity of donors who want to make a meaningful difference through the values of education.
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1882
The Rev. Dr. Charles Wesley Shreiner, Church Farm School founder and first headmaster, is born in Mount Joy, PA. Shreiner’s father deserted the family when he was 2, and his mother, Harriet, placed her five other children with relatives. “The Colonel,” as he came to be known, vowed to someday open a school that would support single mothers and teach their sons the value of hard work. -
1917
With the help of supporters, The Colonel acquired 125 acres on an old farm known as the Moorhead homestead in an area known as “Glen Loch.” -
1918
On April 1, Church Farm School opened its doors to five boys from West Philadelphia Episcopal churches who bed down on straw ticking in an old carriage house. -
1918
The first cottage, Woodside, was constructed. Garrett Cottage followed shortly thereafter. The school has 10 "cottages" which each house approximately 18 students and two houseparents. -
1923
CFS holds its first Commencement. -
1924
Church Farm School holds its first Christmas Pageant, acted by students in pantomime and based on the 1909 short story, “Why the Chimes Rang.” -
1925
A 1925 story on Church Farm School runs in the Philadelphia Inquirer. -
1928
The Church Farm School Chapel is completed, constructed with stones from the farmland. -
1930
CFS students spend half their day working the farm, then the rest of the day doing academics and athletics. -
1935
Donors to CFS were rewarded with a box of Scrapple each Christmas. -
1941
George Scheuerlein ’38 loses his life serving in the U.S. Navy during the attack on Pearl Harbor. The school has many alums who have served our country. The CFS Military Scholarship Fund provides financial support to current students from military families. -
1954
Saturday Evening Post story on the school spurs interest and philanthropy. -
1955
– Rose Acre, the beautiful rose garden behind the Chapel, is designed and implemented. Rose Acre was demolished in 1980 following a blight. A small rose garden at the Head of School residence stands in tribute. Flowers from the farm were sold at a roadside stand along Route 30. -
1956
The Church Farm School completes construction of a gym. Prior to this, the students played basketball in the area of Greystock that is now the senior lounge and a storage facility. -
1962
In addition to potatoes and flowers, the farm includes chickens, pigs and a very large herd of dairy cows. By 1962, the herd is producing up to 500,000 gallons annually. -
1963
Chapel expands in size, allowing Sunday worship. Previously, the school’s choir and students attended Sunday services at neighboring St. Paul’s. The first service in the larger Chapel was held Thanksgiving morning, Nov. 28, 1963. -
1964
Following the passing of The Colonel in November 1964, his son Charles W. Shreiner Jr. takes over as headmaster. -
1964
Throughout his tenure, "Young Charlie" built a strong academic curriculum complimented by great faculty and staff. -
1964
CFS changes its charter to allow students of color. -
1967
Church Farm School’s first African American student, Benjamin Hickman Wright, Jr., graduates, serving as class valedictorian. -
1970
The Wilkins building, for the teaching of science and math and named for Earl Wilkins, a longtime teacher and alumnus, is constructed. -
1986
Community service program begins and all farming operations fully cease. -
1995
School sells 800 acres to Chester County and West Whiteland Township. These funds help to create an endowment for the school carefully managed by the Board of Directors. -
1987
Charles W. Shreiner III “Terry” becomes third headmaster (until 2008). -
1994
Church Farm School admits its first day students. -
1997
The school introduces the 1:1 student computing program and its first class of international students are admitted. Today, the school is approximately 18% international students. -
2009
The Rev. Edmund K. Sherrill, an Episcopal priest, becomes fourth Head of School. -
2013
Church Farm School, with a grant from the Pennsylvania Solar Energy Program, constructs a five-acre solar array which is used to power 80% of the school’s electricity needs, and ushers in a new era of “farming” at the school. -
2017
For the seventh straight year, 100% of students are accepted to four-year colleges, including Tufts, Brown and Williams.
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Life Begins at 70: A Reflection by The Rev. Dr. Charles Wesley Shreiner
In this beautiful letter written in the 1950s by Church Farm School's founder, The Rev. Dr. Charles Wesley Shreiner, he reflects on how his vision and faith endured throughout his life and how the community continued to rally around any struggles he and the school encountered. On the cusp of Church Farm School's 100th birthday, we are thrilled to share the Colonel's passion for the school and its boys, along with his eagerness as he looks toward the future.
- "The School That Came From Nothing," reprinted from April 1954 Saturday Evening Post
List of 4 events.
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Fall Awards
Chapel of the Atonement -
Admissions Virtual Open House
Join us to learn about what it's like to be a CFS Griffin! Register here.
Church Farm School | 1001 E. Lincoln Hwy. | Exton, Pennsylvania 19341
Phone: 610.363.7500 | Fax: 610.363.5367 | Admissions: admissions@gocfs.net
Phone: 610.363.7500 | Fax: 610.363.5367 | Admissions: admissions@gocfs.net
The Church Farm School is an independent boarding and day school for boys in grades 9-12 located in Exton, PA. Founded in 1918 to provide an excellent education to young men from limited means, Church Farm School now serves boys from a range of socio-economic circumstances who are seeking an extraordinary educational opportunity. The school offers a challenging college preparatory curriculum and an exceptional level of personal attention, with class sizes averaging between just 7 and 12 students.
