The first records of the existence of a Sunday School at St James’s are in the March 1885 edition of the church magazine, at which time there were 273 children ‘upon the books’. The traditions and role of the Sunday School in the 19th century still have something in common with what our children enjoy today — having fun together — there are just not so many of them!

The church magazine continues: ‘At the Sunday School Winter Entertainment, which took place in the Boys’ School, on 5 January, the prizes were distributed and a bun, an orange and a bag of sweets given to each child. The Vicar gave an exhibition of dissolving views and comic scenes of the magic lantern.

‘It is proposed that the usual expedition to the Crystal Palace shall take place, if all be well, about the end of the month of May.’ In the event, 292 children went on the trip and the Hampton Brass Band met the party at the train station on their return.

The Sunday School is now called The Jays as it takes the ‘J’ from Jesus and the ‘J’ from James. The Jays operate during the Sunday morning communion and have been in several locations. Twenty years ago the children were escorted down the road to Wayside. When that was sold they were to be found in a portable building in the vicarage garden. Now they are in our church hall.

The children are an integral part of the church community and contribute to its rich tapestry. One of the activities that they love above all is taking a story from the Bible and writing, directing and performing a play in a modern day setting. This has helped them to relate to the message and to understand how it fits into every day modern life.
It has been great to watch the children develop and grow within the church family. They have progressed to taking Intercessions and serving, and many years later to bringing their own children to church!

As the Sunday School at St James’s enters a new chapter in its leadership, it seems a good time to explain just what it is that the children enjoy on an average Sunday morning by sharing the Nettleton family’s experience:

We have four children, aged between nine and 15 years of age. They have been attending the Sunday School for 12 years… and entirely of their own volition! For my husband Charles and me, four crucial aspects of the Sunday School’s work stand out:
• Differentiation in teaching There are currently two groups: one for children at secondary schools and one for the infants and juniors, with age-appropriate activities and focus.
• Being part of St James’s The children lead intercessions, display artwork in the church and in the hall where it is seen by other organisations, act as sidespersons during the Crib Service, contribute to church fund-raising appeals and take part in the tea and coffee rota. On St. James’s Day they are in charge of craft activities and the soft drinks stand. They perform plays, sing in the children’s choir or play in the orchestra and make Christingle oranges with the Guides.
• Creativity, listening and questioning Children are encouraged to explore the gospel or Old Testament reading in creative child-led ways such as making a group piece of artwork or through drama. Children are encouraged to question and debate issues such as Creationism.
Drama is a very important area of self-expression and the children have created several dramas through improvisation, guided by their teachers. Again, these are child-led in focus.
Children feel valued as individuals – those in the older group each have their own special mug that they have hand-painted.
Children are challenged to think of others and to be looking for ways to help others outside their own community.
Social activities, such as the film evening, help to generate thinking and ideas for a fund-raising activity publicised to the congregation.
• Charitable fund-raising, the wider community and the world For a number of years, on the night before Mothering Sunday, The Jays have held a sponsored sleepover in aid of local, national and worldwide charities linked to the Lent Appeal. In the morning they serve breakfast to those coming to the Mothering Sunday services, a great outreach event on a day when many new families are in church.
In addition the children hold cake and bring-and- buy sales, make jewellery out of recycled materials to support the church’s recycling theme, and hold a chocolate melt-down after Easter to make cakes to sell for charity.

The children go to many different schools within the area so their ‘Sunday’ friends are very special. Indeed the time they spend with each other has brought some memorable statements. At a picnic a child asked, ‘Why has Jesus got shorts on?’ The vicar thought he had been instantly promoted!
They are also intrigued by the Big Bang theory and the story of Creation from the Bible, all of which illustrate the connections between scientific research and Christianity. Another issue was why Joseph was Jesus’ father, but not as important as Mary or God.

Here are a few thoughts from the children on what they like about Sunday School:
• ‘I love socialising with my “Sunday Friends”.’
• ‘I love having a sleepover even though it is scary looking out at the graveyard at midnight and hearing the church clock chiming.’
• ‘The Caris magazine is great as it is modern and hip.’
• ‘I like hiding in the play house!’
• ‘I love doing the puzzles and activities on the sheets.’
• ‘I love acting in the plays’
• ‘I like the stories being read to us and being able to read to the younger ones.’
• ‘Just having our own space to discuss openly our thoughts whilst drinking tea and coffee is good.’
• ‘I remember comparing the Holy Spirit to the wind : you know it is there, but can’t see it, so you can play with bubble mixture and balloons to demonstrate this.’
• ‘For me the best bit is fund raising for charities.’

Lou Coker, our Sunday School teacher for a staggering 19 years, has found it to be a very uplifting experience. She had no teaching experience so, to begin with, it was challenging trying to keep children with different ages interested. Getting them to talk wasn’t a problem: not all talking at the same time was! They had some great joint lessons too.
Watching the older children spend time and patience with the younger ones as they have glue and paper stuck in the wrong places illustrates that we aim to impart caring and thoughtfulness as well as the traditional Ten Commandments.

It was moving to see four members confirmed in November and it was a great testament to the Sunday School for encouraging and energising the children to discover more about their faith.
Many thanks from our family to Lou, and Sarah Peterson — her fellow teacher for the past seven years — for giving our children so many challenging and exciting experiences and such a positive start to their Christian lives

Source: Susannah Nettleton, The Spire Magazine - 2010 February