BackSt. Hubert's Sunday School

Report - February 1974 – From the Sunday School Superintendent, Pat Chaloner

I would like to take you briefly through the swing doors of St Hubert’s Sunday School. In September 1970 I passed this way, having for the previous three-and-a-half years been an ordinary ‘Mum’ delivering my four children at 11 am and waiting for their reappearance at noon. I joined the staff on that Sunday and have passed through these doors weekly since.

To come face to face with a class of lively children for the first time is an experience. To find that you also have to embark on a new method of teaching is an alarming experience! The course chosen for that year ‘Alive in God’s World’ demanded that you were truly alive. The amount of preparation and imagination required, ensured you stayed alive. At the close of the summer term, we looked back and decided that some where during the year we had turned too much into an Arts and Crafts Class. The points being made by all the activity were revealed at the Church festivals, Christmas, Easter and Whitsun. As few children attended at these times the meaning of much of our effort was wasted.

Keeping a full staff is a problem because of the weekly commitment. At the beginning of my second year we were reduced to one adult (me), two teenagers and two more who came occasionally. I had to take over and prepare to open in September. We welcomed one more adult as we commenced. The decision to return to a more conventional method of teaching was made, and the enthusiastic bright faces who had enquired weekly ‘What are we making this week Miss?’ visibly dimmed as we again told a Bible story, made a point and drew a picture. We now use a course which is a good balance between the previous two. During these two years the staff became a close working team, meeting monthly to help and encourage each other. Time passed, and having passed once more bore away almost all its teachers to college, work and pastures new.

With two teachers and about seventy children, to open last September appeared impossible. After much prayer, thought and determination that we would, I bought new furnishings, books and equipment. Suddenly three more teachers were found and a pianist to teach the ‘tinies’ to sing. Once more we embarked on out efforts to teach the faith.

Here I would like to give a few details of our structure. Children are taken at the age of four and encouraged to stay until they are confirmed. The junior classes commence with prayer, followed by singing, a story, drawing, modelling and puzzles, etc. The seniors have work books to complete after a talk and discussion. We all assemble in the Large Hall at 11.45 am for our service, led by the Rector. An area is set aside for this. We have a new altar, cross and candles and a set of furnishings in the Liturgical colours, also modern Hymnbooks. Here we endeavour to create an atmosphere of quiet, so that the children can learn something of the meaning of worship and that there is a real value in being still. From our collections we annually support two or three children’s charities sending each £10.

Highlights of our year are the occasions we close Sunday School in the hall so that we can all, parents and children, come together in church for the 10 am Parish Communion. These are Harvest, Epiphany, Confirmation, Mothering Sunday and Easter. The End of Year service and Prizegiving in the hall is also a thrill, being the one time most parents attend.

Problems have been solved and new ones appear. At the moment we have enough staff, we have a steady flow of new children, we have our equipment. Discipline is now one of our concerns; some naughty children constantly spoil it for the many who come to listen and learn. Can we perhaps blame modern trends in Education for a little of this?

Before closing I would like to make a request. The Staff are fully employed in study and preparation for the work of the Sunday School. We have gradually had to drop parties, outings and sadly this year our contribution to the Bazaar. If anyone feels they would like to be involved by taking on any of these outside activities we would welcome this enormously.

So behind the swing doors of St Hubert’s Sunday School week by week we try through love to show to the children entrusted to us, that we are all members of a larger family – the family of God. That we each have our part to play which is gradually shown to us as we acknowledge out dependence upon him. Lastly as we travel on this journey and become obedient we find that ’He who calls us, is to be trusted’ indeed.

On the 13th January this year we paid the last instalment of the loan on the Church Hall. The £7000 was borrowed from the Church’s Central Board of Finance ten years ago, and at last it has all been paid off. So this particular chapter in the life of St Hubert’s has been brought to a successful conclusion, and we are the inheritors of a far-sighted piece of work by churchmen here in the early 1960s.

In the last ten years the Church Hall has under the PCC been administered by a committee and then by a small group of managers. We are grateful to all who have helped in its maintenance, but to no one more than Mr and Mrs Aplin who have acted a Secretary/Treasurer, dealt with all the bookings and financial affairs since the beginning. We are gratefully indebted to them for all they have done. We thank also our two caretakers, first Mrs Cruikshank and now Mr Williams.

The Hall has been an asset not only to the Church for its many activities but also to the community as a whole. It is nearly always fully booked and is used by all age groups.