Developments in Religious Education in England and Wales (Part 1)

Abstract

"The churches can legitimately lay claim to having initiated the entire education system within England and Wales. From 1808 onwards the churches founded schools, trained teachers and organised the daily curriculum of many millions of pupils.1 Voluntary congregational giving largely funded the educational efforts of the churches although from 1833 onwards the state began to offer support for building costs and to insist that, where public money had been made available, inspection should follow.2 Only in 1870 did the State, recognising that the churches were failing to keep pace with population growth, reluctantly step into the educational arena. From this date onwards, under Mr Gladstone’s Liberal government, new Board Schools were founded, supported largely by money raised through local rates."