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Durham E-Theses British Sunday Schools in the Era of the First World War: 19001939 MCCARTNEY, CAITRIONA,MARY,SEONAID How to cite: MCCARTNEY, CAITRIONA,MARY,SEONAID (2018) British Sunday Schools in the Era of the First World War: 19001939, Durham theses, Durham University. Available at Durham E-Theses Online: http://etheses.dur.ac.uk/12752/ Use policy The full-text may be used and/or reproduced, and given to third parties in any format or medium, without prior permission or charge, for personal research or study, educational, or not-for-prot purposes provided that: • a full bibliographic reference is made to the original source • a link is made to the metadata record in Durham E-Theses • the full-text is not changed in any way The full-text must not be sold in any format or medium without the formal permission of the copyright holders. Please consult the full Durham E-Theses policy for further details. Academic Support Oce, Durham University, University Oce, Old Elvet, Durham DH1 3HP e-mail: [email protected] Tel: +44 0191 334 6107 http://etheses.dur.ac.uk 2 British Sunday Schools in the Era of the First World War: 1900–1939 Caitriona Mary Seonaid McCartney A thesis submitted for the qualification of Doctor of Philosophy Department of Theology and Religion Durham University 2018 1 Abstract Sunday schools played an important role in shaping and forming the religious life of Britain. Throughout much of the twentieth century the schools had a pervasive influence in society. From political figures to royalty, the schools touched the lives of much of the population. However, despite the significant role they played in the religious life of the nation, research concerning them rarely extends beyond the outbreak of the First World War. Additionally, the schools have traditionally been portrayed as ineffective tools of religious education and formation. This thesis intends to address the importance of the Sunday schools and to assess their effectiveness in the era of the First World War. It will examine the schools from 1900 to 1939 in order to consider their experiences before, during, and after the war. In doing so the research will demonstrate the importance of religious belief and practice in Britain at the beginning of the twentieth century. Exploring the history of the Sunday schools during the First World War provides a new insight into debates concerning religion and the conflict that challenges the perception of the irreligious British soldier. Correspondingly, the thesis reveals that the First World War was not a major factor in the decline of religion in Britain. It also details the experiences of the schools during the interwar period, which have largely been under researched, revealing the continuing importance of Christianity during this time. The thesis reveals that rather than being stagnant, the schools attempted to reform their work to provide the best education for their scholars. Principally, it will argue that the Sunday schools were an integral part of religious life in Britain and therefore deserve a much more thorough treatment and appreciation in the historiography of British religion in this period. 2 Table of Contents Abstract ...................................................................................................................................................................... 2 Abbreviations........................................................................................................................................................... 5 Statement of Copyright ..................................................................................................................................... 6 Acknowledgements .............................................................................................................................................. 7 Dedication ................................................................................................................................................................. 8 Introduction.............................................................................................................................................................. 9 Literature Review .................................................................................................................................................... 10 Research Questions ................................................................................................................................................ 52 Methodology ............................................................................................................................................................ 55 Sources ..................................................................................................................................................................... 56 Terminology ............................................................................................................................................................. 59 Chapter 1 – British Sunday Schools in the Pre-War Era, 1900–1914 ........................................ 60 Introduction.............................................................................................................................................................. 60 Sunday Schools and Society ................................................................................................................................... 61 Sunday Schools and Social Concerns .................................................................................................................... 67 The Work of the Sunday Schools ......................................................................................................................... 75 International Nature of Sunday Schools ............................................................................................................... 85 Perceptions of Sunday Schools .............................................................................................................................. 88 Conclusion ................................................................................................................................................................ 93 Chapter 2 – British Sunday Schools and the First World War, 1914-1918 ............................ 95 Introduction.............................................................................................................................................................. 95 Response to the Outbreak of the First World War ............................................................................................ 98 Practical Impact of the First World War ........................................................................................................... 100 Supporting the War Effort .................................................................................................................................. 112 Emotional Impact of the First World War ........................................................................................................ 121 Perceived Standards of Sunday Schools ............................................................................................................ 125 Conclusion ............................................................................................................................................................. 129 Chapter 3 – The British Forces and the Sunday Schools, 1914–1918 ..................................... 131 Introduction........................................................................................................................................................... 131 Sunday Schools in ‘Reports’ Concerning Religion and the British Army ......................................................... 132 Perceptions of Sunday Schools — An Alternative Outlook ............................................................................. 141 Importance of Sunday Schools to British Soldiers and Sailors ........................................................................ 146 Soldier Scholar Relationships with their Schools ............................................................................................... 153 Sunday Schools in the Religious Life of the British Forces ............................................................................... 158 Conclusion ............................................................................................................................................................. 164 3 Chapter 4 – British Sunday Schools in Interwar Britain, 1918–1939 ...................................... 166 Introduction........................................................................................................................................................... 166 The Impact of the First World War .................................................................................................................. 167 Sunday Schools and Society ................................................................................................................................ 181 Perceptions of Sunday Schools ........................................................................................................................... 187 Sunday Schools and the World .......................................................................................................................... 191 Conclusion ............................................................................................................................................................

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