I have a book entitled ‘Erdington Parish Church’ published in 1948 and written by the then Vicar’s wife, Mary G Power. It’s a discarded library book. It has a couple of interesting passages, one of which describes the National Schools. I don’t think it’s been on this thread before.
‘THE NATIONAL SCHOOLS
The following is a copy of the first entry in the Minute Book of the Erdington National Schools.
“At a meeting called for the purpose of considering the propriety of a School for the education of the children within the Parish of Aston, on the Rev. Dr. Bell’s system, held this 6th day of January, 1813, in the Vestry. From a statement produced of the number of children from five to twelve years of age within these parts of the Parish, it appeared that out of 324, the total, there were of both sexes in the Hamlet of Erdington 184 and in Witton 29 – a very great proportion of whom stood in need of such instruction. The meeting therefore thought it expedient that a school should be first established in the village of Erdington, as being the most centrical point and that a subscription should be opened in the Parish to defray the expense and resolved that a meeting of the subscribers and all other friends to this universally approved method of educating the rising generation should be held at the Vestry upon Sunday the 28th day of February, immediately after Divine Service in the morning, in order to appoint a Committee to carry the plan into execution without delay.”
The first school building was in Bell Lane and the School was commenced on April 6th, 1813.
On the same day it was resolved, “That there be a fortnight’s vacation at Erdington Wake,” and “That there be a half-day’s holiday every Thursday and Saturday, after 12 o’clock.
The first collection in in Erdington Church, that taken at the Consecration Service, was in aid of the National Schools.
In 1824 the Schools were removed to the present site and were enlarged in 1851.
The Schools have a splendid record. For more than 135 years the work of training the young in the essentials of the Christian Faith has been carried on. Every week during term the children come to their Parish Church take part in a service which they know and love.
The Head Master is Mr. W.F. Bishop, B.Sc.
Sunday Schools are also held in the School buildings, which are only three hundred yards from the Church.’
The school closed in the 1960’s I think, and a new school called St Barnabas Church of England Primary school opened in Spring Lane, Erdington.
