Figure 1.--These are the children attending the Daily Vacation Bible School in 1921 at Fort Street Presbyterian Church in Detroit.

We are not positive about the chronological trends concerning Vacation Bible Schools (VBS). This is a religious event durung summer vacation. It varied in length from church to church. usually used to represent a week-long religious activiy during the summer. The first such examples were reported in the 1890s. We do not know how well publicized the first examples were. The experience did not immediuately take off, but we begin to see a numbr of churches hiding the (1910s) We know vacation Bible schools were held in the 1920s af have found a substantial numbr of examples in the photographic record. 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. Ithink they have ceclined since the 1960s. This reflects the decling levels of church attendance.The growing secularization of America and diversity are probably the major factors.

The 1890s

We are not positive about the chronological trends concerning vacation Bible schools. The first such examples were reported in the 1890s. The first known VBS organized in Hopedale, Illinois (1894). Sunday school teacher D. T. Miles, who also taught in public schools. She felt that short sunday school sessions were inadequate. So she began a daily Bible school to teach children during the summer school vacation. She attracted 40 children and her experiment lasted 4 weeks. A local school closed fr the summer was used for the classes. An ajacent park was availkablefr outdoor activtes. Another unconnected experment took palve in New York (1898). Virginia Sinclair Hawes (Mrs. Walker Aylett Hawes) who directed the children's department at Epiphany Baptist Church in New York City, started upwhat she called an 'Everyday Bible School'. She taught neighborhood children during the summer at of al places a rented beer parlor in New York's East Side. Today there is s a bronze plaque honoring her efforts located in her hometown of Charlottesville, Virginia, in the foyer of the First Baptist Church. We do not know how well publicized the first examples were.

The 1900s

The 1910s

The experience did not immediuately take off, but we begin to see a numbr of churches hiding the (1910s). Dr. Abraham L. Latham of the Third Presbyterian Church in Chester, Pennsylvania, initiated a 5-week, 4-hour per day event, that he called summer Bible school (1912). He attracted 650–700 students. It was his own idea, he had not heard of the eearlier experiments. It has been called the world's first VCB. It appears to have kindled an interest amonong Prebeterian chrches nation wude which he curches promoted.

The 1920s

We know Vacation Bible Schools were held in the 1920s af have found a substantial numbr of examples in the photographic record. bHere we see one at a Presbeterian Church in Michigan (1921) (figure 1). Robert Boville of the Baptist Mission Society had heard of the Hawes New York 1898 experiment. He began encouraging Baptist churches to organize VBS programs. The Baptists were are a ajor denomiation and VBS began to be promoted by an established chuch. Boville heped organize local VBSs taught by students at the Union Theological Seminary. During one summer, some 1,000 students were enrolled in five different VBSs that had been rganized. Boville he founded the World Association of Daily Vacation Bible School (1922). There were apparently other VBSs srining up elsewhere. Standard Publishing began producing the first printed VBS curriculum. The material was for a 5-week course for three age levels--kindergarten, primary, and junior (1923). Other pubishers created material with Bible stories, religious songs, arts and crafts, skits or puppet shows which aimed at primary-age children. We note Michingan UP Church with a VBS (1924).

The 1930s

Some denominations organized national VBS programs. But other individual churches run their own VBS programs without being following the program of a national organization. Natiopnal denominations offered apprived material. There are also independent publishing houses offering VBS mterial.

The 1940s

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.

The 1960s

They continue to be run by churches, but a much smaller proportion of children attend them. I think they have ceclined since the 1960s. This reflects the decling levels of church attendance.The growing secularization of America and diversity are probably the major factors. In addition, kids by the 1960s had so many more activities availablr than was the casevin the 1920s.

The 1970s

Most churches provide VBS programs at no cost to those attending, though some may charge a fee for the program. Studies indicate that VBS is on the decline. Barna Research found that 81% of U.S. churches offered VBS in 1997, while only 68% did so in 2012.[4] References

Created: 9:22 AM 3/12/2010
Last updated: 4:02 AM 7/13/2025