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| William Gross and Samuel Knight, were joint Superintendents of the school, after Mr Whittemore left the parish. James Farrow became Treasurer and Ebenezer Knight was Secretary. Rev George Bailey, pastor 1854/7, and his daughter started to teach girls in the bible classes to write. In 1856 a writing school for the girls was formed by John Sargent, Thos Burton, J Knight, Ebenezer Knight, C. Burton and Thomas Maddock who were the Superintendents. |
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William R Gross
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Samuel Knight
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| In 1860 the jubilee of the Sunday school was celebrated in September. New school rooms were opened the same day, and the Rev J E Bloomfield came from London to preach at the services.
The following year and infant class was also started with William Gross, Mary Freeman and Ebenezer Knight teaching.
Soon children started to come from Podington and the schools thrived. In 1870 Canon Barker came as rector at the Parish Church and opened a church Sunday School, which took 16 children from the Baptist school.
In 1878 a singing class was started by Joseph Farey.
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Ebenezer Knight
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| Haydn Packwood (son-in-law of the church secretary, Wm Colson) was the school Superintendant for a short time but in 1881 he and the Misses Colson withdrew from the school and church to form the Union Church (later the Congregational).
Mr Samuel Knight (draper) took over the treasurer's post. He and his 7 daughters were all teachers. His daughter Lizzie died at the early age of 26 on 21st September1886.
Mr William Elstow also had 7 daughters who also taught in the schools. In 1887 Miss Harriet Elstow left for America, and a bible was presented to her.
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Joseph Farey
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| In 1884 a new building was agreed for the school and it opened on 24th September. |
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1910 Sunday School Gallery
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F Cowley - Supertintendent
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F Corby - Superintendent
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S C Brightwell - Secretary
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F Bayes - Treasurer
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H E Abrams - Assistant Secretary
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The Scholars' Sick Fund was instituted in October, 1886, a balance of seven shillings and sixpence on the Parents' Tea Account being allocated for this purpose. Since then all such surpluses have passed freely into the coffers of this useful agency, but as such a source of revenue must obviously be precarious, since 1890, an appeal for subscriptions has been made to the Teachers annually, and the fund has gained stability thereby.
Mr. Stephen Harris and Mr. James Clarke have been the only Treasurers the Fund has had, while the collectors have been Miss Clara Bayes, Miss Nellie Ward, Mr, Percy Collins, and Mr. Lewis Allen.
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In 1884 there were 340 pupils and by 1888 this was 486 with 52 teachers. Seven classes of younger girls were made into a new department under Mr Harry O Robinson.
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| In January, 1890, a Penny Bank was opened, with Mr. Arthur Cave as Treasurer, Messrs. Thomas Everarcl and John Knight as Secretaries, and Messrs. J. F. Knight, Edward Loakes, Fred Perkins, Joseph Dickens, and Henry Clayton as a Committee of management. During the first year £54 were deposited. The Bank was wound up in 1893. |
| A Teachers' Library had been in existence since about the year 1853. In 1891 this was merged in a general School Library for the use of Teachers and scholars on equal terms. A considerable quantity of good books were obtained by gift and by purchase, and the Library became an exceedingly popular institution. Mr. W. B. Sanders and Mr. A. C. Ashby were the first Librarians, being joined later by Mr. W. H. Darnell, and Mr. W. H. Tomkins, until, in 1903, Mr. Ernest Ashby and Mr. Thomas Sanders, sons of the original Librarians, were entrusted with the entire management. As a consequence of the opening of the Carnegie Free Library in 1905, the School Library stood derelict, and was formally closed for a time. It is now accessible to the Teachers, who are making good use of such books as are helpful to them in their work. |
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| 1891 Miss Bayes and Miss Williams dividied the girls into two classes, but soon all of the older girls had become teachers leaving Miss Bayes with no pupils. She turned her attention to begin an afternoon meeting for women under the British Women's Temperance Association. |
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Mr C A K Green
Secretary for 9 years
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Stephen Harris
Teacher for over 30 years
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Mrs Tailby (nee Miss Bayes)
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