New Sunday Schools that have begun in the past year joined dozens of others, some more than a century old from around England and Wales at the fourth annual National Sunday School Day and Parade. A yearly event sponsored by the Crown Christian Heritage Trust, the parade, was held on 12 May at the Beeches Road Baptist Chapel in Rowley Regis, West Midlands. The organizers of the day were encouraged to see more participants than any previous year. More than 500 Sunday School children and workers took part in the service at the chapel which included hymns, a children's choir, Scripture reading by young people and a gospel sermon specifically geared toward children by Pastor Robert Cordle of Harrold and Carlton Baptist Chapel (Bedfordshire).
At the conclusion of the service, the Sunday Schools gathered in the chapel car park where they unfurled their banners and moved out into the High Street of Blackheath, Rowley Regis to begin the March to a nearby local park. A brass marching band led the way with rousing hymns such as Onward Christian Soldiers as the hundreds of Sunday School supporters sang and enjoyed their time of public witness to the community that Bible-believing Sunday School work is still going foward!
The parade concluded at the park where a picnic lunch was enjoyed with each Sunday School group providing it's own food and then an exciting time of old-fashioned field games traditional to such a day: egg and spoon race, coconut shy, three-legged race among many others. An awards ceremony followed the sport event with bronze, silver and gold medals given out to winning participants. The Lord held the rain off and everyone was away to their respective churches by 3pm. Many who attended commented on the encouragement that they received from meeting so many others who are involved in the vital work of reaching people with the gospel through the evangelistic Sunday School. East Birmingham Baptist Chapel in Tyseley and Breck Road Baptist Church in Liverpool both started new Sunday Schools since last year's parade and their children were thrilled to carry the new banners. Those who attended were encouraged to pray for new Sunday School works to begin around the country.
Next year's National Sunday School Day and Parade is scheduled for 11 May, 2019 (D.V.).
At the conclusion of the service, the Sunday Schools gathered in the chapel car park where they unfurled their banners and moved out into the High Street of Blackheath, Rowley Regis to begin the March to a nearby local park. A brass marching band led the way with rousing hymns such as Onward Christian Soldiers as the hundreds of Sunday School supporters sang and enjoyed their time of public witness to the community that Bible-believing Sunday School work is still going foward!
The parade concluded at the park where a picnic lunch was enjoyed with each Sunday School group providing it's own food and then an exciting time of old-fashioned field games traditional to such a day: egg and spoon race, coconut shy, three-legged race among many others. An awards ceremony followed the sport event with bronze, silver and gold medals given out to winning participants. The Lord held the rain off and everyone was away to their respective churches by 3pm. Many who attended commented on the encouragement that they received from meeting so many others who are involved in the vital work of reaching people with the gospel through the evangelistic Sunday School. East Birmingham Baptist Chapel in Tyseley and Breck Road Baptist Church in Liverpool both started new Sunday Schools since last year's parade and their children were thrilled to carry the new banners. Those who attended were encouraged to pray for new Sunday School works to begin around the country.
Next year's National Sunday School Day and Parade is scheduled for 11 May, 2019 (D.V.).
Watch this brief highlight film of the Sunday School Day and Parade!
Watch this brief highlight film of the Sunday School Day and Parade!
