Sunday school facts for kids
Sunday School is a type of class found in many churches, mosques, or other religious groups. These classes usually happen on Sundays. They are held either before or after the main worship time.
In Sunday School, people learn more about their religion's teachings. They also study their holy books, like the Bible. Sometimes, these classes are just for children. Other times, adults also attend. Often, there are separate classes for different age groups.
How Sunday Schools Started
Sunday schools first began in the 1780s. They were created to give an education to children who worked in factories. Sunday was their only day off. Robert Raikes, a newspaper editor, helped a lot with this idea. He wanted to help children avoid getting into trouble.
In 1805, the Stockport Sunday School opened. It was a very large school with 5,000 students. In the late 1800s, it was the biggest Sunday school in the world.
The first Sunday school in London started at Surrey Chapel. A pastor named Rowland Hill opened it. By 1831, about 1,250,000 children in Great Britain went to Sunday School every week. This was about 25 percent of all the people there.
In the United States, the Sunday School system began in the 1790s. Samuel Slater started it in Pawtucket, Rhode Island.
Some Roman Catholic churches also have Sunday schools. Catholics often call these classes "Catechism class." Priests or pastors sometimes teach these classes.
See also
In Spanish: Escuela dominical para niños
