Repeat of SSA at Prims.
Notes
SSA Repeat
Grandad noted that there was a repeat of the Sunday School Anniversary (SSA) at the Primitive Methodists (Prims). This was almost certainly at Bourne Primitive Methodist Church in Kirkby as this was the chapel that he attended regularly. If it was a different chapel, he probably would have named it specifically as he did the following Sunday. Grandad probably went with grandma, Ethel Cirket. They were “courting” at this time and would marry in 1930, see Chapter 16.
Sunday School Anniversaries
The Sunday School Anniversary was a huge event in Primitive Methodist chapels at this time, see Chapter 17. It celebrated the anniversary of the formation of the Sunday School and involved special presentations by Sunday School children and usually an invited speaker. As a result, they were sometimes referred to as “sermons“. Sunday School Anniversaries were undoubtedly a highlight of the church and Sunday School calendar.
Usually in April or May
Often, Sunday School Anniversaries took place over two consecutive Sundays. So, the second might be referred to as a repeat. However, grandad does not note that there was a Sunday School Anniversary the previous Sunday. Another thing that is odd is that, as far as I know, Bourne’s main Sunday School Anniversary was usually in April or May. There was also a separate Primary Sunday School Anniversary but this was usually soon after, in June.
A Repeat from May?
Looking at grandad’s 1926 diary in more detail, he noted attending “sermons” at “Prims” on 2 May 1926. I thought and still think that this was a reference to the Sunday School Anniversary. Is it possible that the service in August was a repeat of a service previously held in May? I wondered if it might have been the primary Sunday School Anniversary but grandad noted attending a repeat of this in October 1926.
On balance, I think it is most likely that this was a repeat of the main Sunday School Anniversary originally held in May.
Support for this assertion is provided by my grandfather’s 1927 diaries. In those he noted that the main Sunday School Anniversary was held on 15 and 22 May raising £53 2s 2d. The Primary Sunday School Anniversary was then held on 10 July raising £16. Crucially, there was a repeat of the Sunday School Anniversary on 4 September that year.
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