The Sunday Schools of Old Kettering

It might seem strange today that entire buildings were dedicated to Sunday Schools. But historically, they played a much different role than they do today.

Sunday Schools were an important resource for working class families. They provided a basic formal education to children who had to work in the week, or were being taught at home. Many families couldn’t afford the school fees, and Sunday Schools were usually free, or at least very cheap.

During the week, the buildings might have been used by their church for things such as youth groups, charity work, providing adult education, or as a day school.

Their use was phased out as various education laws came into effect:

1870 – The Elementary Education Act made elementary education compulsory, but this wasn’t strongly enforced and parents would still have to pay fees.
1891 – Elementary education became effectively free, thanks to government grants that covered school fees.
1918 – The Education Act raised the school leaving age to fourteen and made education compulsory up to that age, still free.

Together, these laws meant there was no gap in education which the Sunday Schools needed to fill, and they became what we have today.

Here are some of the Sunday Schools in Kettering.

Toller Chapel Sunday School

Meeting Lane

This was one of Kettering’s first Sunday Schools when it opened in its original location in 1810. It moved here in 1884.

The building is now used by various groups, such as Scouting and local theatre.

Fuller Chapel Sunday School

Gold Street

This building was demolished to make way for the shopping centre in 1977. The ground floor had been used for shops since the 1930s.

Carey Baptist Sunday School

Nelson Street

This was the original home of Carey Baptist Chapel. It became a Sunday School when the church moved to its new building on the corner of King Street in 1912.