Chapter Sixteen

The School and the Church

The school owes its existence to the Church. In the mid nineteenth century many schools were founded under the auspices of the Church of England National Society and it is not unusual to find them still in existence.

In the 1860’s the Inspector of Schools included Religious Instruction in his report, along with Reading, Writing and Arithmetic. From the 1870’s onwards there was a separate Diocesan inspection of religious teaching. These reports were often very favourable. In 1892 the Inspector said of the Boys’ school ‘Every boy gained the first class merit, a very unusual report’. In 1893 ‘The result of the Inspection has been excellent all through’. In 1895 ‘The school takes a high place in the A class’. In 1910 ‘it is clear that the greatest interest is taken in religious instruction’. In the earlier years the reports give details of the children’s ability to read the Catechism and their knowledge of the Christian year, but in later years they adopted a broader approach. In 1918 the Inspector wrote of the boys ‘an effort is made to make the Children’s Prayers – both public and private – real and helpful’. The girls too, did well in the Diocesan inspections. In 1907 the Inspector wrote ‘special prayers are taught, excellent in their fullness and simplicity, containing in a few lines all that is essential and nothing that a child cannot understand’.  But Miss Sharp’s girls of 1924 had the Inspector completely captivated ‘what I heard and saw was excellent from every point of view’ and ‘the girls said their prayers quietly and devotionally. I was charmed. I even felt I could pray myself; Quite unusual!’

There are numerous references to the various religious festivals, in addition of course to Christmas. The school often attended St. Mary’s Church on Ash Wednesday and Ascension Day. In the 1920’s there are references to the attendance of the school at church every week throughout Lent. This practice appeared to have continued for some years.

In the nineteenth century not only the clergy but their wives and daughters, notably but not exclusively the Craufurd family and Miss Downing, were regular visitors to the school. In the twentieth century clergy families have attended ‘prize giving’ and the like but their role as overseeing the welfare of the children has ceased. The clergy themselves, however, as well as being Governors have always been regular visitors to the school to take assemblies, classes or just to visit. The children, throughout the years, have visited the church to celebrate events in the Christian Year notably at Christmas.

The school has always observed major religious festivals and even in the most difficult of times there has been celebration of Christmas.

In the early years the school term often ended on Christmas Eve, with a two week holiday following. For some weeks before this there is mention of the singing of Christmas carols. On 18^th November 1864 when the junior girls joined the junior boys for singing with Mr. Peak, the song for the day was ‘Hark the Herald Angel Sing’ – still very popular today. On the last day before the Christmas holiday there would be a visit by the clergy or at least one of the clergy wives. In 1863, the first year of the Log Books, this was the first Mrs. Craufurd, Eliza. In the Boys’ Department she gave each boy a bun and some marbles. In the Girls’ department she distributed articles of clothing for which she had supplied the materials and which the girls had worked in their sewing lessons. In some years oranges, a traditional Christmas gift, were also given to the children. For many years, such fruit would have been a rare treat.

In the 1920’s we learn of Christmas festivities from the Church magazine. In December 1924the Infants had their Christmas party ‘which everyone enjoyed, especially the Punch and Judy show and the visit of Santa Claus. Every class acted a little Christmas play and games were indulged in until Father Christmas appeared and presented each child with a toy from the Christmas tree, and a cracker and sweets’.

Even the difficult years of World War II there were Christmas entertainments in the form of a ‘conjuring and a ventriloquist performance’.

In recent times the celebrations have continued. In 1964 the local newspaper reported on the Infants Nativity Play in the School Hall and the Juniors’ performance of Dickens’s ‘A Christmas Carol’. Dramatic performances at Christmas continue to take place along with Christmas Parties, and, of course, religious celebrations in St. Mary’s Church.

Miss Agatha Downing

In June 1876 the new rector, the Reverend Downing, attended the Girls’ Department with his wife and daughter, Miss Agatha Downing. Miss Downing requested ‘permission to take the geography class’. Miss Hall, the Mistress agreed to this. Due to a heavy thunderstorm the Downings then remained in the school for longer than had originally intended. This was the first mention of Miss Downing who was to continue her involvement with the school until her death in 1932 – a period of 55 years. For many years she taught a variety of lessons in the Girls’ Department. Later, she continued to visit and hand out the attendance prizes to the girls. Until her death she was the ‘correspondent’ of the school, receiving Notices and liasing with the education Authority. In the early years she also on occasion invited the older girls to her home for tea parties. Following her death a Memorial Fund was established. A prize for divinity was to be given to one child each year of either a Bible or Hymn and Prayer Book and the first one was awarded to Dorothy Heathcote in July 1934. In addition, the sum of £20 was to be expended on a Tablet in memory of Miss Agatha Downing.