Figure 1.--This photograph shows children attending the Vacation Bible School organized by the First Baptist Church of New Port Richey (Western Pasco County), Florida during July 1953.

A special kind of sunday school was vacation Bible school. This was for children during the summer vacation from school. The vacation permitted them to attend daily for a period of time during the summer. Many churches held these vacation Bible schools. Parents liked the idea, both for religion reasons and because it provided a constructive activity for the young'uns. I know vacation Bible schools were very common in America, I'm less sure about other countries. We are not sure about the chronological trends. We know vacation Bible schools were held in the 1920s, but we are noit sure when this first began. I think like Sunday schools, they were most prevalent with Protestant denominations. Vacation Bible schools varied. Often they were rather like a day camp with a religious focus. This was necessary for the younger children. You couldn't do Bible study the whole day. You bhad to mix in games and art activities.

Purpose

A special kind of sunday school was vacation Bible school. This was for children during the summer vacation from school. The vacation permitted them to attend daily for a period of time during the summer. Many churches held these vacation Bible schools. Parents liked the idea, both for religion reasons and because it provided a constructive activity for the young'uns.

Popularity

I know vacation Bible schools were very common in America, I'm less sure about other countries.

Chronology

We are not sure about the chronological trends concerning vacation Bible schools. We are not sure when this first began, but probably the late-19th century. We know vacation Bible schools were held in the 1920s. I can recall that they were very well established in the 1940s. I attended a couple of years and our family was not very religious. If I recall, my big brother brought me along. They continue to be run by churches, but a much smaller proportion of children attend them. The growing secularization of America and diversity are probably the major factors.

Denominations

I think like Sunday schools, they were most prevalent with Protestant denominations. The vdry name has a rotestant soind to it. Protestant denominatiins from the very beginning put great stock in Bible reading. We do not know much about Catholic vacation Bible schools.

Activities

Vacation Bible schools varied. Bible study was a major part of it. For children, especially younger children, this meant telling many of the clssic Bible stories. Childten were encouraged to menoruze Bible verses. Often they were rather like a day camp with a religious focus. This was necessary for the younger children. You couldn't do Bible study the whole day. You bhad to mix in games and art activities.

Clothing

Created: 12:50 AM 1/26/2006
Last updated: 8:59 AM 3/12/2010