METHODIST  CHURCH SUNDAY SCHOOL COWLING

July,   1946.

Dear Friend,

It gives us great pleasure to remind you of, and invite you to, our Anniversary
Services on Sunday, July  14th.
This year we celebrate the 60th Anniversary of the present school, although we
realize that the true foundations were laid in the old Bar Chapel long before.
Our special preacher for the day is the Rev. George H. Lockett, of London, a former
Sunday School Scholar.
The scholars of the Sunday School will give 'A Pageant of the Sunday School' in the
large hall at  10 a.m.
Other services will be held at 2-0 and 6-0 p.m., when there will be special singing
by an augmented choir under the conductorship of Ronald Duckworth.
James E. Forte, a.t.c.l., will be at the organ.
We hope you will help to make these services a real re-union.

Yours very sincerely,

ERIC BILTON, (President.)
MURIEL   HARTLEY, MILTON    LAYCOCK, RONALD    DUCKWORTH,(Dept.  Leaders.)
DORIS   RAMSBOTTOM,   (Secretary),
16,  GREEN STREET,
COWLING.

DOWN THE YEARS
On July 10th, 1886, memorial stones were laid for a new  Sunday School. Sixty years ago !
What changes sixty years  have brought. This was not the beginning of the school, but  its
transfer from the old "Bar Chapel", so called because it  was  near  a toll-bar.
As far back as 1832 the building of the "Bar Chapel" had begun, and  for 50 years it served
as both chapel and school. In 1882 a new chapel was opened but the school continued to hold
its sessions in the old  building, until the present premises were opened in 1888. A school
was also held there on week-days, before the Board School was built in 1874. Owing to the
increase in numbers of scholars and  teachers the chapel was too small and it became
necessary to have  a larger and more suitable structure. According to the figures given
in a local directory, published in 1884, there were 320 scholars and  68 teachers in the
school. As there was only seating accommodation  for about 400 and the school was held
in the body of the chapel except for two vestries {one for the young men and one for the
young  women),   it   was   obvious   that  better   accommodation  was   wanted.
The new schoolroom was planned to have a large assembly hall  with classrooms on both sides,
so that each class could retire into its  own room after the opening service. The cost was about
£2500 and it was considered to be an up-to-date and suitable building in every way. In 1907,
however, a Primary Department was formed for children under  eight years of age, and they
began to meet separately. Up to that time the scholars and teachers had all assembled in the
large hall, and a reference to the preachers' plan shows that various teachers were  appointed
to open and close morning and afternoon school. The morning  session commenced at 9-30
and the afternoon a few minutes after the afternoon  service  (which  began  at   1-30) closed.

 Although a Primary Department had been formed in 1907 it continued to meet in the large
hall, but the need for a more suitable  room, which would also serve as a lecture room, was felt
, and it was  resolved to alter the premises by making the vestries on the east side of the
school into one room. This was done at a cost of £1296, and the  opening ceremony was
performed by Mr. W. H. Gott, of Rochdale,  (an old scholar of  the school) on  April 9th,   1921.

In 1923 a 'separate Junior Department was also formed, and this  department met in the
afternoon in the room in which the primary met in the morning. In 1928 a Senior Department
 was formed. Up to  this time many of the teachers and superintendents only served on  
alternate Sundays, but in order to keep closer contact with each other and to follow on
 with the lessons more effectively, it became necessary to attend preparation class and Sunday
 School weekly. These arrange- ments seem to have taken the place of some earlier activities.
 About the  year 1899 a Mutual Improvement Society used to meet on Friday evenings, when an
average attendance of about 30 men discussed  many and various subjects, religious, political
and social.

In the years immediately before the first world war a men's adult  class met on Sunday
 afternoon, with speakers from other places as  well   as   our   own,   and   with   an  
 opportunity   for   questions   and   discussion which proved most helpful and popular.
Mr. John Hartley was an efficient secretary of this class until September 1914, when he
left for  National  Service.

Where so many names appear of people who deserve special mention it is difficult to
 select a few, but we think special mention should be made of : John Binns, who acted
 as secretary for well over 20 years up to the time of his death in 1928. He also acted
 as teacher -and superintendent, and the records of the school bear abundant
testimony to the time and thought he brought to this work. The reports he brought
to the annual teachers' meetings show the deep and unfailing interest he had in the
 school. John Bradley is another example of long and faithful service as teacher and
 treasurer for many years. Elizabeth Hutchinson and Everett Binns who taught the Young
 Women's Class for many years. Especially can it be said that Mrs. Hutchinson
showed a deep interest in the scholars both in and out of school. John Heaton gave
 considerable assistance with a large class of young men for some years, and exerted
 a beneficial influence in the school. There are many others whose names appear in the
 minute books and registers who gave of their best and whose memory is precious. We

are fortunate in being able to report that we still have an efficient body of men and
 women who are ably sustaining the work of the school, and striving to teach the young
folk under their care the ways of upright conduct and the Christian way of living.

With the passing of the years the times have changed—that is a truism. The number
 of scholars in our school today is not large, but those who attend come gladly, so we
believe. Parents are not so determined as once they were that their children shall have
 "religious instruction", that spiritual equipment for life which used to be avowed as a
necessity in the words, "T'will save us from ten thousand snares to mind religion young".
But the decline in family religion makes it more than ever necessary that there should be
 maintained a "school" rich in tradition, modern in its outlook, and convinced that body,
mind and   spirit  alike  need  food and  training.

The present School with its Primary, Junior, Intermediate, and Young People's
 Departments, all ably led, sets before its scholars the three ideals of Christian Worship,
Christian Character and Christian Service. With   enthusiasm   and   faith   in God it  faces   the   future.

The Sunday School is indebted to Mr. Bright Laycock and the Rev. Eric  Bilton   for   the  
 above   contribution

THE OLD
THE  OLD  BAR  CHAPEL, COWLING.
Adjoining the main Keighley - Colne highway, known as Colne Road.
Derives its name from the fact that there was a Toll Bar at this point.
The small door and window to the left of the Chapel is the "Public Assistance Office" of over sixty years ago, where small sums of money (5/6 for three persons) were doled out to people  'on  the town'.

THE NEW
The present Chapel was opened in October 1882 and has seating accommodation for about 750.
The Schoolroom was erected in 1886-7, behind the Chapel, and consists of a separate Assembly Hall and classrooms.
In 1921 the classrooms on one side of the hall were converted into a Primary Room and its usefulness has more than justified the expense incurred in this alteration.

TO BE OBSERVED IN THE

COWLING UNITED   METHODIST

FREE CHURCH SUNDAY SCHOOL

INSTITUTED IN THE YEAR OF OUR LORD,   1830

RULES   TO   BE   OBSERVED   BY   THE COMMITTEE.

1—A Committee to consist of seven Members (all of them Teachers and in Society), shall be chosen annually. At the end of the year a new committee shall be elected, three of whom shall be persona who have served during    the    preceding   year.

2—The Committee shall meet for the dispatch of business at such times as are necessary ; and should any, composing that committee, absent themselves from such meetings, they shall forfeit two-pence, unless lawfully confined ; and the rest of the com­mittee shall have power to act if they think proper. The foreman of the com­mittee shall give notice of such meetings in proper time, or the fine shall    fall    upon   himself.

3—In this School no Catechism shall be taught, or Hymns sung, nor any other book introduced until such books shall have received the sanction of the committee and a majority of the teachers.

4-—The management of the School shall be conducted, as much as possible,    by   religious    persons.

5—The committee shall annually nominate and appoint a Treasurer, Secretary   and   Superintendents.

RULES   TO   BE   OBSERVED   BY  THE SUPERINTENDENTS.

1_ The  School  shall be opened   and

concluded   with  singing   and   prayer ; for the  neglect  of   which   the  Superintendent shall be fined sixpence each time. For the sake of variety and edification no one exclusively shall be employed in giving out hymns and in prayer ; and the prayers shall be short, plain and audible, that    all   may   hear.

2—The best teachers shall be appointed to the higher classes. Classes at any time without teachers shall be supplied ; and any teacher wanting assistance shall have it as soon   as   possible.

3—The names of the scholars shall be regularly called over ; and should any absent themselves two Sundays in succession their case shall be inquired   into.

4—The crimes of the scholars shall be made known to the Superintendents, who shall determine upon their punishment, in which cruelty shall be   avoided.

5—An account of the books shall be taken quarterly, when it shall be ascertained what books are wanting and   need   repairing.

RULES TO BE OBSERVED BY THE TREASURER.

1—The Treasurer shall annually, at Christmas, give an exact account of all monies received and paid on account   of   the    school.

2—He  shall not buy any  thing,  nor pay  any   money,  for   the school  without  order from   the   committee

 

RULES - CONTINUED

RULES   TO   BE   OBSERVED   BY   THE TEACHERS.

1—The Teachers shall attend the school fifteen minutes before Nine o'clock in the morning, or forfeit one penny, and the same if more than fifteen minutes after the conclusion of   the   afternoon   service.

2—The teachers shall meet quarterly, for the purpose of taking into consideration the government of the school. Any teacher absenting himself from such meeting shall forfeit two-pence, if   not   lawfully    detained.

3—No teachers, especially Super­intendents shall be reprimanded pub­licly; but if any of them act contrary to rule, they shall be admonished privately, that their influence over the scholars may be preserved; nor shall the teachers talk with each other, but shall attend to their scholars during the whole school-time,   and   keep    them   in    order.

4—-A quarterly examination of the school shall be made ; and no scholar shall be removed into a higher class without the consent of the teacher of that class ; and every teacher shall endeavour to be as correct as possible    in   pronunciation.

5—No Scholar shall go to the fire without the consent of his teacher, nor to the door without leave of the Superintendents ; and not more than one   or   two   at   a   time.

6—No Scholar shall be allowed to speak louder than whispering ; and should they do so they shall be marked   with    disgrace.

 

7—-The Scholars shall be commanded to walk soberly to and from school, be civil to strangers, and yield proper obedience to their teachers; and if any do otherwise they shall suffer according   to    their    crimes.

8—The Scholars shall attend fifteen minutes before Nine o'clock in the morning, clean washed, and their hair combed ; and by fifteen minutes after preaching in the afternoon, or be marked with disgrace, or have no admittance.

9—The Scholars shall attend the Forenoon preaching, with their teachers to keep them in order, every Sunday.

10—Once or twice in the year, the parents or friends of the children will be requested to meet to receive an address, of which notice will be given.

11-—The Scholars shall be command­ed to kneel at prayer ; none shall be   allowed   to   sit.

12—It is earnestly requested that all party spirit be avoided, and that the children who attend may be instructed in the general doctrines of Christianity, their duty towards God, their neighbour, their king, and their country.

May the Lord grant that every teacher may enter upon this work as his duty, and with a single eye to God's glory, and for the happiness of the rising generation in this neighbourhood ; that they, their children, and their children's children may have cause to bless the Lord to the latest generation.

Amen.