The mayor of St. Anthony says he was surprised to learn that a sign with a religious verse will not be displayed at the town's new school, despite its historic tie to Sir Wilfred Grenfell.

The sign comes from a school built by Sir Wilfred Grenfell in the early 1900s.

It was moved to St. Anthony Elementary when it was built in the 1970s, and some town councillors expected it would be on display at the new White Hills Academy when it opened.

A 1961 photo of a building that houses the local Boys and Girls Club in St. Anthony, seen displaying a religious verse. The sign was a gift from Sir Wilfred Grenfell. (Bob Shomler)

However, Mayor Ern Simms said that isn't the case, and council was told by the school district that any plaque at the new school would have to be non-religious.

"I didn't look at that as being religious, and a lot of people didn't and still don't," he said.

"I look at it as something that Grenfell always worked with — he worked with everyone. He worked with all people as a doctor and apparently he was partly missionary as well, and he worked with everybody in that area."

The quote in question is from the book Isaiah in the bible, verse 54:13.

It reads "All thy children shall be taught of the lord, and great shall be the place of thy children."

School district open to giving plaque to the town

The province's main school district said it has no plans to put the sign up at White Hills Academy, but would consider giving the plaque to the town if the council wants it.

A photo taken in the early 1920s of the old Grenfell School in St. Anthony. The biblical verse can be seen displayed on the front of the building. (Ethel (Benson) Cramm)

Simms said the school district told the council it is open to displaying something at the school that recognizes Grenfell's contribution, but it would need approval from the school council.

"We can get a plaque that would basically credit Grenfell for the work he did towards education in St. Anthony, and place it in White Hills Academy on the wall somewhere with a non-religious or Christian theme," he said.

"We have to stay away from religion."