Sunday school

Christian education movement founded in 1780 by Robert Raikes (1735–1811). Raikes set up a school in Gloucester to teach working children the elements of Christianity and basic literacy and arithmetic on Sundays. The idea was taken up by other denominations, and by the 19th century Sunday schools were widespread.

Today, Sunday schools continue to teach children about the Christian faith and prepare them for later commitment if they choose to take it. Stories are told and activities take place. On Sundays, children can either attend Sunday school or Junior Church while their parents are taking part in a church service, or stay with their parents at the service. Children who choose to go to Sunday school usually rejoin their parents before Holy Communion is received.