A Historical Perspective

Two hundred years ago, as books became available to the masses, there was a major drive for literacy and churches and faith-based institutions were the major force behind that drive. Even the term "Sunday School" originally referred to literacy classes that were taught by Christians using the Bible, and only more recently has the term been more applied to classes focused only on religious teaching.  The first Sunday School was established at the beginning of the Industrial Revolution in 1780 by Robert Raikes in his home to teach street children in London how to read.