Sunday School History

By Glenys Taylor Sunday School Leader

Present:- Rev. J. E. Noble. Mr D. Hockley. Mr T. W. Alfred. Mrs a. Bishop. Mrs Brine. and Miss Peters.

Mr Noble opened the meeting by stating that the committee had been convened by the Sunday School Council of the Barry Methodist Sunday Schools. to arrange the establishment of a Sunday School in the Colcot area mainly for children under 9 years of age. No child to be refused admission.

The school to commence at 2.30 p.m.. the first Sunday opening to be January 28th 1940. That first Sunday three children came along. their names were Jimmy Stewart. Ruth Irish. and Tony Malpas .

The Colcot Sunday School had started. and it increased in leaps and bounds. I remember that we seemed to take over Mrs Bishop's house on a Sunday afternoon. the service being held in the dining room. and some classes held in the sitting room. kitchen. and on the stairs and hall (what fun we had). Some of the teachers that taught us were Mrs Eveleigh (on loan from Porthkerry Road Church). Miss C. Norris, Miss M. Hodson, Miss I. Shill, Mr W. Hodson and Mrs Bishop.

In December 1940 Mr & Mrs Cullen in Winston Road opened their home as an overflow of the Sunday School, as there were 49 children on the register at Mrs Bishop's home.

Our first Sunday School Anniversary was held at Porthkerry Road Church on May 18th 1941, with about 50 children taking part.

Then in July and August 1941 the tent mission was held on the site planned for the church. On the first Sunday it opened. 75 children attended Sunday School. We children thought it was great having Sunday School in a tent. and when the weather was fine we would have lessons outside on the grass.

When the hall was opened in 1942 we had to have Sunday School in relays. the Primary department at 2.15 p.m. and then the Junior department at 3 p.m. as by now there were 109 children on the registers.

We have always had problems with not having enough teachers and sometimes had to ask for support from our other churches in the town. In 1943 Miss M. McLean came to us from Holton Road Church and stayed to help us for about 15 years.

Sunday School outings:- I expect some reading this will remember going on outings to Dinas Powis Common or Tredegar Park or Aberafon. some of the places we have been to.

Christmas parties are not what they were. with jelly and blancmange, followed by games and the arrival of Father Christmas. These days we have a lunch with sausages, beans and chips, followed by a film show and presents under the Christmas tree. How times change

Over the years quite a good proportion of our children have sat the scripture exam (or as it is now called Bible Exploration) with very good results.

Reading the minutes of the Sunday School, I realised that there have been so many folk who have spent so much time teaching the children about the Christian life, that I could not begin to name them. We can only say a very big thank you to all who have worked in the Sunday School through the years.

The numbers of children are on the increase again now with 31 in the Primary department and 30 in the Junior and Senior department. Our present staff are Mrs Tanya Watson, Mrs Barbara Gibson, Mrs Carol Redpath, and myself. We always welcome anyone who would like to teach in our Sunday School.