Figure 1.- -Here is the Sunday School Class from the Douglas Congregational Church, Douglas, Wyoming, taken on June 10, 1900. Notice the small boys about 5 or 6 years old) seated in the front row, two of whom wear white sailor suits. Two other boys wear white blouses with floppy ties. A fifth boy wears some sort of darker colored blouse
without a tie. All the boys wear knee pants with black long stockings and hightop leather shoes. We can't tell what kind of trousers the older boys in one of the back rows are wearing, but since they seem to be about 11 or 12. they are probably in knee pants and black stockings as well. Note that long stockings are part of the formality of the clothes despite the fact that it is late Spring (June 10). Click on the image to see the rest of the Sunday School.
We are not yet sure about the historical development of Sunday schools. One author dates the first Sunday school to Britain about 1790. I am not at all sure this predated developments in northern Germany and other Protestant sttes on the continent. The subject is somewhat complicated by the fact that many early schools were founded and supported by churches rather than states. This was the case in America during te early colonial era. Sunday schools became increasingly important in the 19th century with the development of public schools in America. As churches lost control of schools, sunday schools became the medium by which the various denominations educated children in the dogma of the faith. They also provided activities to attract and hold the interest of children. Sunday schools not only had an educational purpose, but they were a way of providing "constructive" activities for children on Sunday. As far as we can tell, sunday schools were especially important for Protesants because Bible reading and study was much more important in Protestant denominations than the Catholic Church. In addition Catholics after they began arriving in large numbes in the 1840s (at first mostly Irish), set up their own school system with religious instruction part of the curriculum. There was a Protestant influence in early public schools, but this was limited by theological differences among the major denominations. By the late 19th century the Sunday School movement was a major American institution.
Sunday Schools
We are not yet sure about the historical development of Sunday schools. At first children attended church with their parents. Eventually the idea of an age-appropriate exoperience for children developed. One author dates the first Sunday school to Britain about 1790. I am not at all sure this predated developments in northern Germany and other Protestant states on the continent. The subject is somewhat complicated by the fact that many early schools were founded and supported by churches rather than governmental bodies. This was the case in America during te early colonial era. Sunday schools became increasingly important in the 19th century with the development of public schools in America.
We do not yet have much information about Sunday school in the 19th century. We know that people dressed formally in the late-19th century. And Church was a an event for whichb people put on their best clothong. The term 'Sunday best'n appeared at this time. We believe that children were also dressed upin their best clothes for Sunday school, although we are not entirely sure how common Sunday school was during the century. We suspect that many children cane dressed in kilt suits, Fauntleroy suits, and other formal wear. Formal dress continued to be de rigor for the early-20th century. Available images confirm that this was the case. We see school age boys wearing fancy blouses without suit jackets during the summer at the turn of the century. The photographic record is much more complete as we now have family snapshots. After World War I we begin to see greater informality. Church and Sunday school outfits followed general trends, although formal attire in here persisted longer ghan in other areas. Boys still mostly wore suits in the 1920s, but we begin to see less formal outfits by the 1930s. More comfortable two piece button-on outfits became common for younger boys. After World War II we see bots aopeararing with perhaps a white shirt perhaps with a tie and dress pants rather than a suit. This varied greatly from family to family. Church was one of the few places where boys might wear suits by the 1970s. Generaly speaking, dress for Sunday school was somewhat more informal than for actual church attendance.
Purpose
As churches lost control of schools, sunday schools became the medium by which the various denominations educated children in the dogma of the faith. They also provided activities to attract and hold the interest of children. Regular church services may be difficukt for younger children. Sunday schools not only had an educational purpose, but they were a way of providing "constructive" activities for children on Sunday.
Denominations
As far as we can tell, sunday schools were especially important for Protesants because Bible reading and study was much more important in Protestant denominations than the Catholic Church. In addition Catholics after they began arriving in large numbes in the 1840s (at first mostly Irish), set up their own school system with religious instruction part of the curriculum. There was a Protestant influence in early public schools, but this was limited by theological differences among the major denominations.
Church Attendance
Sunday school attendance varied quite a big from family to family and among churches. Some children went to Sunday school, but not the actual service. Sitting still for the little ones is difficuklt during a long service. This was particularly true for younger children and children whose parents did not go to church. Other children would attend Sunday school and then join their parents for church services. Some denominations were permissive, leaving it up ton the parents to decided without any real direction. Other denominations were stricter and encouraged parents to bring even young children into the actual Sunday services.
We believe that the Sunday school was particularly important in America. This is, however, only our initial assessment. We still have very little information about other countries. By the late 19th century the Sunday School movement was a major American institution. A gresat many American children attended Sunday school and vacation Bible dschools in the 19th abd 20th centuries, including children tht were not from psrticulsly religious families. It was strongly associated with the Protestant churches. I think Catholic churches in America picked up on, but was still very Protestant, in part becsause it was conducted by lay teachers. We think sunday schools were also popular in Britain. We have very little information about other countries at this time. A factor here is thst umlike America, many European countries have religious instruction in the public schools.
Children's Day
We do notjknow a great deal about children's day. Apparently this wasaspecial day to celebrate children. Herewe see Children's Day at a church in 1900 (figure 1). We thought it might be beca day when the Sunday school children joined the adult congreagation. But soime the children here are surly old enough to attend regular services.
A special kind of 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 the1920s, 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.
