Sunday School Reports 1885 - 1957

The Font was presented by Captain John William Jones of  Fulham in 1860. Captain Jones' sister, Mrs. Kensall, was the first organist of the Church, and with Mrs. Carpenter (head-teacher of the first school in Sale, 1853) started the first Sunday School.

Report of the Guardians for 1885

The Sunday school numbers just upon 300 children with a staff of four and twenty teachers. It is very much to be regretted that so few take an interest in the Sunday School work.  Churchmen seem to forget that the churchmen of the future are the children of the present.  How important then is the work, and how needful that all who can should help.

1883 He desired to say a few words to those who had been his helpers in the past year. There were 250 children in the Sunday School, and he thanked those who had co-operated with him as teachers, and hoped that others, especially the men folk, would come forward and help them in that work. The reverend gentleman rendered his hearty thanks to the members of the choir for their services during the year, expressing the hope that some person would come forward to conduct the choir, and thus render their services more efficient.

1904

At a very early period in the history of the church, a Sunday School was established; and a goodly number of adults, now useful members of their respective churches in the town, received their first public religious teaching thereat; and have a green spot in their memories for the old mother church, whose spiritual nourishment they thus early received. Owing to the absence of official records, it is not possible to give a full account of the chief officers who managed and superintended the School in the old days, but on another page will be found a list (incomplete) of some of those who took a leading part in Sunday School affairs. At the present time the School is in a vigorous and fairly satisfactory condition, with roll list of 300, and an attendance of over two hundred. The Schoolroom has been recently renovated and adorned, and now is very comfortable for both Scholars and Teachers. Elsewhere will be found a complete list of those who now form the Teaching Staff of the School.

AGM 1905  The Sunday School continues to flourish, with an average attendance slightly in advance of the previous year. The attendance of the boys was not too satisfactory; and the parents are requested to note this, with a view to its amendment.

1910  After due consideration, the Teachers this year decided to hold the Annual Picnic at Stratford on March 31st and made arrangements for a special train to convey Teachers, Parents, Scholars, and Friends to the Picnic Grounds. The Picnic proved most enjoyable to all who availed themselves of the outing.

Photo of St Paul's Sunday School Teachers 1910

1912  Since the disposal of the Guild hall property(what was the first St Paul’s,) Sunday School has been held in the Temperance Hall. 

1919  “The Sunday School is now in thorough working order again. Several new teachers have joined the staff.

We have five men teachers, and a full staff of ladies, ( However that may be??!!)  with two or three supernumeries for occasional help when desired. Our next task is to get all the children. The cry now is not lack of teachers, but lack of children for the classes. A new Primary Department is being opened this year, under the charge of Miss Webber. This will be located in the Choir Vestry. The Kindergarten is in recess at present, but its excellent work will be continued under the capable guidance of Miss Vines.” 

AGM 1927  “The Sunday School changed from the afternoon to the morning, and that proved quite successful, especially in bringing the children to Church where they are taught to worship.”

1934

The Sunday School:

Superintendent: The Rev. J. N. Ashton.

Secretary: Mr. Athol Cox. 

Staff: Messrs H. Scott and E. Crozier, and Misses Thomas and Andrews.

Junior School: Sister Winifred and Mrs. G. S. Martin

Kindergarten: Leader  Miss P. Wilson (on leave) and Misses D. Hurley (acting leader), M. Lander, E. McInnes, J. Lander and M. Christie.

The School is well equipped with two fine halls, one elaborately fitted as a Kindergarten. School is held each Sunday at 10 a.m. The number on the rolls is about 100.

Richard J. Cherry, who loved his Church, and devoted his life to its highest service, was elected to the Board of Guardians in 1890, and from the first, took an active interest in its affairs, both material and spiritual. When the Church was consecrated he, with the late John Walden and Mr. C. W. Dell, was elected as first Churchwarden. His greatest work for his Lord and the Kingdom was in the Sunday School, of which he was the Superintendent for about thirty years. This work is the greatest test of a Christian man's devotion, and he served well and faithfully. In failing health for some time, he received the Higher Call just the month before the Jubilee of the Church he loved and served so well.

1931  Report of Canon-in-Residence Rev. Canon Thornton

“The Young People’s work went on happily through the year.  The Sunday School should be better attended, but Parents are very careless these days.  We thank the teachers for their self denying labours.”

The Report of the Sunday School (senior section) for 1957

In presenting the report of the Sunday School there is much of which we can be proud, though the perennial need still remains with us, viz. more teachers. During the first part of the year Deaconess Georgie was in charge of the two senior departments which met in the Parish Hall at 10 and 11am respectively. We are all aware of the devotion and care and thought which the Deaconess brought to this piece of work. Here we would place on record our appreciation of her work.  From the beginning of July Mr. Quee took over control and the work was carried on in this way until the end of the year. With the departure of both the Deaconesses the problem of teachers became even more acute. It is in much the same way that the school has started its work for this year.

It has been our practice for some time now to make note of children who are absent for a couple of Sundays and to call at their homes.  The purpose being to look the child up if sick, or to endeavour to bring the child back to the school if absent for any other reason. This has made a heavy demand on time, energy and clerical work, for it is surprising how often parents are not over concerned about the child’s absence from the school.  In this way an effort is made to maintain the high numerical strength of our Sunday School.

Enrolled last year in the Senior Departments were about 230 children, and if we take into account those teachers who were teaching in both these senior depts, then we had some 14 teachers to deal with this number. Not such a large number of children to each teacher, it may seem, but ever so many when it is remembered that all the children are in the one hall at the one time being instructed.

 If we add to this number the Bible Fellowship Group of some 28, and the infants dept. of approx. 130, the number in the school does not come far short of the 400.

The teachers do a very wonderful piece of work for the Church and the children and we thank God for such people who give of their time and thought to get the Faith over to the growing generation.  At the end of 1957, Mrs. Shaw, who has been pianist and teacher, literally for years and years, felt that it would be wise for her to have a rest from this work.  So this year we are without her capable and efficient help, and we would place on record in this report our keen appreciation of her many years of faithful service to the Cathedral Sunday School.

For 1957 the Sunday School was responsible for the sum of sixty pounds being made available for the work of Missions.  This appears in the S/S balance sheet.  The Picnic was a grand success and we are grateful to all those who helped on that occasion.  Palm Sunday in the Cathedral was a special occasion for our scholars, as was the Children’s Festival.  There was the fun and frolic of the Festival Social in October, and then the prize giving, which this year was on a limited scale.

We take courage, we live with hope for the strength of the Church of tomorrow when we see these young lives being brought up in the fear and nurture of the Lord, and in the service of Christ and His Church.