Today's Speech Day marks the 100th anniversary of the July 1924 Speech Day, which saw the laying of the foundation stone of the Durham School Chapel. To commemorate this, Father Simon McMurtary will be blessing this stone, an occasion representing both the hundred years of the school's history that have elapsed and the great loss of former students in both World Wars. 

The idea of having a war memorial came as early as December 1917, when the Dunelmian said that a structure "of a visible and non-utilitarian character" was needed to commemorate those who had died during the war. The actual notion of a Chapel was only decided upon on the 7th November 1918; four days later, the war came to an end. A competition was held to determine the design of the Chapel; the winning architect was Walter Brierley of Brierley and Rutherford, York. This initial design was almost twice as long as the final size of the Chapel, and it had space for four rooms behind the altar: a cleaner's store, a sacristy, a vestry and a lavatory. On 3 July, a ceremony took place to celebrate the laying of the Chapel's Foundation Stone; the building itself would not be completed for another two years. 

According to a memo circulated by Canon Budworth on the week of the laying of the foundation stone, students took breakfast at 8.30, had a lecture in Big School at 10 o'clock, and enjoyed dinner at 1 o'clock; then they gathered for the speeches themselves in Budworth's garden at 2.30. The eventuality of rain was considered, and it was decided that in that event students would gather in Big School. The laying of the foundation stone took place directly after the speeches. The Assistant Masters were instructed to "kindly help to see that visitors find their way to the Chapel side directly after speeches and to find them places to stand, as far as possible." These members of staff were instructed to wear caps, hoods and gowns. A procession of the Dean, Canons, robed Masters and King's Scholars later made their way from the bottom of the Hill ("passing near the new Tuck Shop") to the Foundation Stone. In the words of Canon Budworth, "the School should as far as possible be together!" 

The central congregation present for the laying of the stone consisted of the Dean of Durham Bishop James Welldon, Headmaster Canon Richard Budworth, Canon R.H.J. Poole, Canon Cruickshank, Canon Dawson-Walker, Mr H.M. Wilkinson (the second master), and the King's Scholars. Of these individuals, R.H.J. Poole had recently retired after a long career at the school, while Canon Dawson-Walker was the father of Durham School student Eric Dawson-Walker, who was graduating in the same July 1924 ceremony. Harold Mayfield Wilkinson had become Second Master the previous year, having attended the school as a student from 1888 to 1894, taught science from 1906, and been honorary secretary of the OD society from 1908. 

During the ceremony, there was a marked sense of commemoration for those associated with the school who had died, whether through war or by other means. As well as the 97 names of ODs who were killed in action, William Fearon, the 1882-1884 headmaster of Durham School who had died in April 1924, was specifically mentioned. The Dean foregrounded the specific role of the Chapel in stirring up these memories. "There is not a boy, I hope, present of future, who as he worships in the chapel, or as he looks upon this foundation stone, will not say to himself, 'They were my school-fellows: they were once boys at Durham School as I am now. O that my service to the school may be not altogether unworthy of theirs.'" 

The magnitude of the sacrifice made by those who had given their lives during World War One was also highlighted. "They flung away all that is held to make life dear: youth, strength, pleasure, achievement, the opportunity of making a name in the world; and they have saved the world for which they died. It is thanks to them that we Britons who survive are free citizens of a free nation and a free empire. There is something Christ-like in their devotion: they died that you might live. Let us bravely and strongly guard the land which they have redeemed." The Dean concluded the speech with prayer: "With full and grateful hearts we commend them to the mercy of the Merciful Father, and in His Name and to the worship of His triune glory I declare this foundation stone now to be truly laid." The congregation on the hill then sang "with impressive solemnity" O God, Our Help in Ages Past. 

The Chapel was constructed over the following two years, and was dedicated on 30 September 1926; unfortunately Walter Brierley, the architect, never got to see this event, as he had died the previous month. "It is a matter of real regret to us all that the eminent architect, who designed the building, has not lived to witness its dedication," wrote the Dunelmian at the time. Even in 1926, however, there was still work left undone. The western end of the building, located at the rear of the Chapel, had not been built, and was instead sealed with a temporary wall. An economic downturn in the 1930s and the outbreak of war in the 1940s meant that the Chapel was not finished until 1956.