The Constitution of the Bishop Heber Hall starts with a preamble which reads, "we the resident members of Bishop Heber Hall, having solemnly resolved to uphold the democratic rights and healthy traditions of this Hall, whereby every member of the Hall shall enjoy equality of status and liberty of thought and expression, do thereby adopt, enact and give to ourselves this constitution". Article 1 of the constitution emphasises that ," Maintenance of peace, harmony and discipline, shall be the primary responsibility of all resident members of the Hall in general and the elected representatives, and the Bishop in particular.

HISTORY

The beginnings of the Hall are different from those of the College. While the history of the College begins with the small school started at Egmore in 1835 that of Bishop Heber Hall could be traced back to a similar school started by Gr.Schwartz at Trichy in 1763. The school at Trichy grew and became a college in 1878. It was named Bishop Heber College after Reginald Heber (1783 - 1826) the hymn writer and Bishop of Calcutta. In 1932 this college was closed and merged with the Madras Christian College. The teachers and students who shifted to Madras formed the Bishop Heber Hostel at Vepery. After a short stay at Vepery and later at Royapettah, the hostel finally moved out with the rest of Madras Christian College to Tambaram in 1937. The beautiful Chapel, the Hall library and the Hall Coat of Arms are reminders of the transformation of the college at Trichy to the Bishop Heber Hall at Tambaram.

COAT OF ARMS

The Hall Coat of Arms, originally of the Bishop Heber College, bears the Rock at Trichy, a cross and a Bible, surmounted by a pelican, feeding its young with its own life-blood.

MOTTO

The Motto, in Latin, is "Nisi Dominus Frustra". This means, "In vain, without God", This motto is from the first verse of Psalm 127 which reads "If the Lord builds not the house, the builders labour but in vain".

ACCOMMODATION & AMENITIES

The Hall has accommodation for 214 members and about ten of those would be members of the Faculty. The residence of the Warden and several other members of the faculty attached to the Hall are close to the Hall.

The rooms in the Hall are equipped with a table, a chair, a book shelf, a cot and a stool. The Hall has a chapel, a library, an indoor games room, a theatre for Hall meetings and an open-air stage for film shows and similar other programmes. Besides the Playgrounds around the Hall, Roman Rings, a horizontal bar and a gymnasium are also provided on the premises. The Hall office Telephone is +91 44 65909855 and the Hall mess Telephone is +91 44 22395767. Non-Resident students attached to the Hall enrich the life in the hall by their meaningful participation in various Hall activities.

THE HALL RULES

The rules have been drawn up carefully, after much experience, so that residents may live together in harmony and without becoming a nuisance to each other or to those outside.

Compline timing : 8.00pm to 8.30pm every night in the chapel.
Roll call Timing : 8.30pm to 9.00pm every night
Gate closes : 10.30pm.

THE HALL SONG

If you come to Tambaram, darling
Come to Heber Hall
Heber is a paradise, Fish Pond and all
Ulunthuvadai, Masalvadai anything you want
Mess bills as big as hills
Heber is our haunt

Chorus:-
Way down in Tambaram
There's old Heber Hall
Is there another like it?
No-not at all.

If you come to Tambaram, darling
Travelling in the trains
Get the Heber lads to meet you:
They've got the brains:
If you want to marry my darling
And to marry well
Stick to a Heber lad
And send the rest to Hell! (Chorus)

Come along on Sports Day, darling
See me run the mile,
High jumping, hurdling - In the Heber style
Some of us are fat and some of us are thin
But Heber is a sporting Hall
Whether we lose or win! (Chorus)

We are all the members
Of the Heber family
Kachia moru, pachai moru eating happily
The Tamilian, the Telugu, the Coorg, the Malayalee
We are the Sons of Heber
Home of the free (Chorus)

WARDENS OF BISHOP HEBER HALL

HALL CABINET

Composed of resident (2006 - 2007) members, elected by the General Body of the Hall.

OTHER STUDENT OFFICE BEARERS / LEADERS

BISHOP HEBER CHAPIL:

Sacristan : Bijoy Rudhra Thomas (III B.A. Eng. Litt.)
Guild Secretary : Juby John Eipe (II M.A.Commuication)
Worship Secretary : Solomon (II B.Com (v))
Chapel Secretary : Geogy George (III B.Com)

THIRUVALLUVAR MANDRAM:

Chairman : Veerasrinivasan,M. (II B.Com (v))
Secretary : Vetrichelvan,S. (II B.A. Pol.Sci.)
Treasurer : Arul Prakash,A. (II B.A. Pol. Sci.)

Each Block (A,B,C,D & E) has a Block Captain

ACTIVITIES OF THE HALL

• Orientation and ice-breaking for I year residents, by Resident staff, in the first week of July.
• Initiation ceremony of I year residents in the presence of warden, Resident Staff, Anti-ragging committee members.
• First General Body Assembly in August - passing of annual Budget.
• Inter block culturals - "Silver Tongue".
• Annual Inter Collegiate Acoustic music fest - 1^st Saturday in October - "Octavia". It ends with a showdown featuring a Rock Band from India.
• Hall News Letter: "Plelican Brief"
• Hall annual Magazine: "Aazad"
• Unofficial Hall magazine - for Private circulation only - "Heber Rag".
• A painting is done in the Outdoor stage every year, for the Hall Day, in accordance with the theme of the Hall Day.
• Membership in British Council Library and Connemera Library, to enable residents use Library and Information Science facilities.

AWARDS WON

• Galarompics ( Martin Hall) - won overall shield
• Moon shadows (Selaiyur Hall) - Entertainment Shield
• Vaatika (Martin Hall) - Best Garden maintenance 2005 - 2007
• Inter Hall Athletics - Championship shield (34 times out of 64 such meets)

SANCTUARY GUILD AND HALL OUTREACH PROGRAM

• Our Guild members (chapel) and Hall residents have adopted "Hope Foundation" a home for HIV/AIDS affected children ( 2 to 10 years) in Sembakkam, spending free time with them and allotting a small portion of their savings to buy goodies for the children.
• A documentary titled "Ninos De La Esperanza" was produced by our residents in 2006.
• Some of our students also are taken to the Government T.B.Sanatorium / HIV-AIDS ward, periodically.

ANNUAL SANCTUARY GUILD OUTING

2005: One day tour of all ancient historical churches in Chennai.
2006: "Workshop on Christian Leadership" in collaboration with YWAM