When the church was one hundred years old, Mollie Davis wrote a history of the Sunday School. The statement was on the back cover page of a Sunday School record, written in pencil. It is copied here as it appears: “The Sunday School as an important part of the church deserves special mention at this celebration of the 100 th anniversary of our church. Though the Sunday School work proper did not commence for about a quarter
1910
century after the organization of the church, yet, we believe, existed in embryo form from the first movement to establish a congregation here. But the preliminary work of getting parents interested, building a church and preparing persons to take charge of the Sunday School had to be done. The first Sunday School in the world had been organized by Robert Raiber in London only about 30 years when our church was started and Sunday Schools were in their infancy. Sometime in the forties probably about 1845, the first Sunday School met in the old church that stood where John B. Davis and Ben Stallings now live. Preston Talbott was the first Superintendent. That he was a successful one was proven by the long years he held the position. The teachers were the fathers and mothers from the surrounding homes. In those days there were no buggies or carriages to convey the children to and from Sunday School. Many walked or rode horseback behind some older members of the family. Some even came barefooted carrying their shoes and stockings until near the church when they sat down by the roadside and put them on. In those days there were no lesson helps or papers. As many as could had a Bible or just the New Testament. Each class read a Chapter and the teacher questioned and explained. It seems hard for us to believe but at the first Sunday School back in the (eighteen-) forties, there were large boys and girls in their teens that could not read, and our first teachers did a little of the work Robert Raiber did in London at the first Sunday School in the world, taught them their letters and to read. They had a little blue back Spelling Book with A-B- AB & C and from this little blue book they taught reading. For many years the Sunday School held only half the year, commencing in the spring when the roads were good and closed in the fall. They would usually observe Christmas in some way by getting the children together and giving them a little treat. Someone who remembered hearing a scholar, who attended when Preston Talbott was Superintendent, say that Mr. Talbott sometimes would buy the treat himself; if it was only a stick apiece they were pleased. My father Joseph Davis was Superintendent after Mr. Talbott, and he filled the office faithfully and well for many years, the Sunday School was improving all the time. A new church was built where this one now stands, an organ was purchased and though a little one it seemed fine in those days. New song books with the notes were used. Mrs. Lula Walker, now Mrs. John B. Davis, was the first organist. The Berean Lesson Leaves were introduced. T.M. Weaver followed Joseph Davis as Superintendent.”
St. Paul’s UMC History
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