Sunday School by Brian Hancock

Transcription

1 Sunday School by Brian Hancock If you are as old as I am (b 1936) then you probably went to a Sunday School when you were about 4 or 5 years old. Why? Because all the other children in the street did the same. My parents reasons were quite sound, Dad worked six and a half days a week and had a well deserved nap so Mum went to see her family and the Sunday School was about 50 yards down the street from there. For an hour or so Mum was able to chat and not have to listen to my Dad's snores and two brothers doing what brothers always do. Meanwhile my brother and I were cast into the world of Bible stories, hymns and nearer to Christmas Carols - And that was the only reason we stayed at the Chapel, as we called it. It was many years later I learnt that it was the Christadelphian Hall. We weren't bothered as at Christmas there was a Story, Carols, a Nativity and a Party with red jelly, custard, cakes, Santa Claus and a present of an Orange and a Toy Tank. When we were a little older we moved onto the Northgate Methodist Sunday School, because they had a better Party and a trip to the Pantomime, then later to St. John's Church because they also had a trip to the seaside in the summer, on the train. And which beach did we end up on - Weston-super-Mare and the Salvation Army's' Sunshine Corner', another Sunday School At 11+ I passed my exams and went to the Grammar School and also became a Choirboy at St. Mark's Church, whose school my brother and I had been educated from 3 to 7 years when we then moved to an all boys school As a choir boy I learnt about deception and the Vicar turning a 'blind eye'. It happened this way. During the Sunday evening Service all the lights were turned off bar the one over the Pulpit where the Sermon was to be extolled. All the Choirboys were in the front row of the stalls whilst the seniors were behind us. For us boys it was all a bore, and we thought it must be for the Seniors but they were always so quiet. Then one day we found that when the lights went out the seniors slipped out, via the Vestry to the local Pub, the 'Kingsholm Arms' was the home of the Gloucester Rugby team. What made my brother and I giggle was that the Seniors included the Headmaster of our old school, his brother and Harry DAWES our Choirmaster, Organist and Senior master at the Crypt School. They sounded a lot sweeter in the next hymn but the organ developed a few bum notes.

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3 Now at Grammar School I had to wear a uniform and this could only be bought at the 'Golden Anchor Clothing Store'. Which brings me back to the Sunday Schools. The said 'Store', built in the 17th Century, was the birthplace of Robert RAIKES the eldest son of Robert RAIKES and Mary DREW. Born 14 September 1736, the house was then known as Ladybellegate House, Southgate Street, Gloucester. He was baptised at 81. Mary de Crypt Church which was, and still is, just across the street from Ladybellegate House. Young Robert was a Philanthropist and Anglican layman who was also a 'Dandy', called by the children of the city 'Bobby Wildgoose' he was credited with being the founder of the Anglican Sunday Schools for boys only, in July 1780, at the home of Mrs. MEREDITH. Girls were catered for some 2 years later. Some years later he was to inherit the Gloucester Journal and Citizen from his father. Also across the Southgate Street, and closer to the St. Michael's Church at the City Cross, on the 27 September 1714 was born George WHITEFIELD. His home was the Bell Hotel, a part of which can still be seen today next to M&S, demolished and replaced by M&S and others. George Whitefield was schooled at Oxford University and became a member of the 'Holy Club' with Charles WESLEY. Later he became an Anglican priest and, travelling on horseback just as John WESLEY did, spread the 'Great Awakening' all over Britain and the Colonies in British North America. He was one of the founders of Methodism, the Wesley brothers were around at the same time. In America he was admired by Benjamin FRANKLIN and laid the foundation for several institutions in Pennsylvania and Princeton that were later to become Universities. What has Whitefield, or Whitfield as the Americans usually refer to him, got to do with Sunday Schools? One of the most devoted followers of George WHITEFIELD was an inconspicuous man who lived in Broadway, Dursley, which is about half way between Gloucester and Bristol. His name was William KING ( ) and some time between ( ) he started a Sunday School in his own home.that puts William KING (2-5) years ahead of Robert RAIKES. Later William moved his school to the Tabernacle (built 1750). The old building was demolished and another Tabernacle was built (1808) in whose original graveyard William was buried on 3rd December 1803, age 73, later to be joined by his wife Ann aged 57.

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5 Going back to being a Choirboy at St. Mark's Church. We were there most of our spare time such as, Sundays, Church high days and special times like Burials and Weddings.Then we also had Choir practice on weekday evenings so I was often in the Kingsholm Road area and that is why I remember 'Papa WHITEFIELD' so well. Imagine a quiet, middle aged man in a green striped blazer, cream cricket flannels, brown shoes. His complexion was weathered with lock of corn coloured hair falling over his brow. Then add a tobacco pipe that was always wavering somewhere in the vicinity of his mouth, or ear. We were taught not to speak until we were spoken to and I never heard Pappa say a word to anyone, but his lips were frequently moving although his eyes never lifted. Rumour that he was a University Professor who had a nervous breakdown and was now living just a few doors from the Church. I believe that he had a housekeeper, and his mother lived just a mile along the same road, towards Lonford in a large property known as 'High Bank'. Always he walked up and down the same road, day after day in his own world, and nobody bothered him. To everyone who knew him he was' the quiet gentleman'. Why tell you about 'Pappa Whitefield'? It is all in the name. 'Pappa' was a descendent of George WHITEFIELD.