Hannah Ball
Encyclopedia
Hannah Ball was an English Wesleyan methodist and pioneer of the Sunday school
.
and other methodist preachers visited High Wycombe
, where she lived for most of her life, she was attracted by their teaching. In 1766 she began to keep a diary
, some extracts of which have been published. Several of the letters that passed between her and Wesley have also been printed. By Wesley's advice she broke off an engagement
to be married to one who, in the language of the sect, was 'an ungodly man.' She was a mystic, and Wesley warns her that 'a clear revelation of several persons in the ever blessed Trinity was by no means a sure trial to christian perfection.'
Hannah Ball died on 16 August 1792.
. It was continued by her sister Anne, was reorganised in 1801, and lasted late into the nineteeth century.
The germ of the modern Sunday school may be traced in the methods of instruction established by Luther
, John Knox
, and St. Charles Borromeo. There are traces of them in France
in the seventeenth century. The Rev. Joseph Alleine
was in the habit of drawing young pupils together for instruction on the Sunday. Bishop Thomas Wilson
instituted such schools in the Isle of Man
in 1703. The Seventh Day Baptists had one between 1740 and 1747 at Euphrata, Lancaster, Pennsylvania.
In 1763 Mrs. Catharine Cappe and the Rev. Theophilus Lindsey
had such a gathering of the young at Catterick
. Dr. Kennedy, about 1770, established one in Bright parish, co. Down
. In 1778 the Rev. David Simpson
opened one at Macclesfield
. There was another at Little Lever
, taught by 'Owd Jemmy o' th' Hey,' whose services were paid for by a wealthy piper-maker, Adam Crompton. These and others preceded the experiment made at Gloucester
in 1783 by Robert Raikes
, who is often described as the founder of Sunday schools.
Sunday school
Sunday school is the generic name for many different types of religious education pursued on Sundays by various denominations.-England:The first Sunday school may have been opened in 1751 in St. Mary's Church, Nottingham. Another early start was made by Hannah Ball, a native of High Wycombe in...
.
Life
Ball was born on 13 March 1734. When John WesleyJohn Wesley
John Wesley was a Church of England cleric and Christian theologian. Wesley is largely credited, along with his brother Charles Wesley, as founding the Methodist movement which began when he took to open-air preaching in a similar manner to George Whitefield...
and other methodist preachers visited High Wycombe
High Wycombe
High Wycombe , commonly known as Wycombe and formally called Chepping Wycombe or Chipping Wycombe until 1946,is a large town in Buckinghamshire, England. It is west-north-west of Charing Cross in London; this figure is engraved on the Corn Market building in the centre of the town...
, where she lived for most of her life, she was attracted by their teaching. In 1766 she began to keep a diary
Diary
A diary is a record with discrete entries arranged by date reporting on what has happened over the course of a day or other period. A personal diary may include a person's experiences, and/or thoughts or feelings, including comment on current events outside the writer's direct experience. Someone...
, some extracts of which have been published. Several of the letters that passed between her and Wesley have also been printed. By Wesley's advice she broke off an engagement
Engagement
An engagement or betrothal is a promise to marry, and also the period of time between proposal and marriage which may be lengthy or trivial. During this period, a couple is said to be betrothed, affianced, engaged to be married, or simply engaged...
to be married to one who, in the language of the sect, was 'an ungodly man.' She was a mystic, and Wesley warns her that 'a clear revelation of several persons in the ever blessed Trinity was by no means a sure trial to christian perfection.'
Hannah Ball died on 16 August 1792.
Sunday schools
In 1769 she began a Sunday schoolSunday school
Sunday school is the generic name for many different types of religious education pursued on Sundays by various denominations.-England:The first Sunday school may have been opened in 1751 in St. Mary's Church, Nottingham. Another early start was made by Hannah Ball, a native of High Wycombe in...
. It was continued by her sister Anne, was reorganised in 1801, and lasted late into the nineteeth century.
The germ of the modern Sunday school may be traced in the methods of instruction established by Luther
Martin Luther
Martin Luther was a German priest, professor of theology and iconic figure of the Protestant Reformation. He strongly disputed the claim that freedom from God's punishment for sin could be purchased with money. He confronted indulgence salesman Johann Tetzel with his Ninety-Five Theses in 1517...
, John Knox
John Knox
John Knox was a Scottish clergyman and a leader of the Protestant Reformation who brought reformation to the church in Scotland. He was educated at the University of St Andrews or possibly the University of Glasgow and was ordained to the Catholic priesthood in 1536...
, and St. Charles Borromeo. There are traces of them in France
France
The French Republic , The French Republic , The French Republic , (commonly known as France , is a unitary semi-presidential republic in Western Europe with several overseas territories and islands located on other continents and in the Indian, Pacific, and Atlantic oceans. Metropolitan France...
in the seventeenth century. The Rev. Joseph Alleine
Joseph Alleine
Joseph Alleine was an English Puritan Nonconformist pastor and author of many religious works.-Life:...
was in the habit of drawing young pupils together for instruction on the Sunday. Bishop Thomas Wilson
Thomas Wilson (bishop)
Thomas Wilson was Anglican Bishop of Sodor and Man between 1697 and 1755.He was born in Burton and Ness, in the Wirral, Cheshire, in December 1663. Having studied medicine at Trinity College, Dublin, he was ordained priest in 1689...
instituted such schools in the Isle of Man
Isle of Man
The Isle of Man , otherwise known simply as Mann , is a self-governing British Crown Dependency, located in the Irish Sea between the islands of Great Britain and Ireland, within the British Isles. The head of state is Queen Elizabeth II, who holds the title of Lord of Mann. The Lord of Mann is...
in 1703. The Seventh Day Baptists had one between 1740 and 1747 at Euphrata, Lancaster, Pennsylvania.
In 1763 Mrs. Catharine Cappe and the Rev. Theophilus Lindsey
Theophilus Lindsey
Theophilus Lindsey was an English theologian and clergyman who founded the first avowedly Unitarian congregation in the country, at Essex Street Chapel.-Life:...
had such a gathering of the young at Catterick
Catterick, North Yorkshire
Catterick , sometimes Catterick Village, to distinguish it from the nearby Catterick Garrison, is a village and civil parish in the Richmondshire district of North Yorkshire, England...
. Dr. Kennedy, about 1770, established one in Bright parish, co. Down
County Down
-Cities:*Belfast *Newry -Large towns:*Dundonald*Newtownards*Bangor-Medium towns:...
. In 1778 the Rev. David Simpson
David Simpson (priest)
Rev David Simpson, M.A. was an Anglican priest who spent most of his career in Macclesfield, Cheshire, England.-Early life and education:...
opened one at Macclesfield
Macclesfield
Macclesfield is a market town within the unitary authority of Cheshire East, the county palatine of Chester, also known as the ceremonial county of Cheshire, England. The population of the Macclesfield urban sub-area at the time of the 2001 census was 50,688...
. There was another at Little Lever
Little Lever
Little Lever is a large village within the Metropolitan Borough of Bolton in Greater Manchester, England. Historically a part of Lancashire, it is southeast of Bolton, west of Radcliffe, and west-southwest of Bury....
, taught by 'Owd Jemmy o' th' Hey,' whose services were paid for by a wealthy piper-maker, Adam Crompton. These and others preceded the experiment made at Gloucester
Gloucester
Gloucester is a city, district and county town of Gloucestershire in the South West region of England. Gloucester lies close to the Welsh border, and on the River Severn, approximately north-east of Bristol, and south-southwest of Birmingham....
in 1783 by Robert Raikes
Robert Raikes
Robert Raikes was an English philanthropist and Anglican layman, noted for his promotion of Sunday schools...
, who is often described as the founder of Sunday schools.