The National Society (Church of England and Church in Wales) for the Promotion of Education, often just referred to as the National Society, and since 2016 also as The Church of England Education Office (CEEO) is significant in the

history of education in England The history of education in England is documented from Saxon settlement of England, and the setting up of the first cathedral schools in 597 and 604. Education in England remained closely linked to religious institutions until the nineteenth cen ...

and Wales. It promotes

church school A Christian school is a school run on Christian principles or by a Christian organization. The nature of Christian schools varies enormously from country to country, according to the religious, educational, and political cultures. In some countr ...

s and

Christian education Catechesis (; from Greek: , "instruction by word of mouth", generally "instruction") is basic Christian religious education of children and adults, often from a catechism book. It started as education of converts to Christianity, but as the ...

in line with the

established church A state religion (also called religious state or official religion) is a religion or creed officially endorsed by a sovereign state. A state with an official religion (also known as confessional state), while not secular, is not necessarily a t ...

. Historically it was in strong competition with the nonconformist organization

British and Foreign School Society The British and Foreign School Society (BFSS) offers charitable aid to educational projects in the UK and around the world by funding schools, other charities and educational bodies. It was significant in the history of education in England, suppor ...

. Both promoted the

monitorial system The Monitorial System, also known as Madras System or Lancasterian System, was an education method that took hold during the early 19th century, because of Spanish, French, and English colonial education that was imposed into the areas of expansion. ...

, whereby a few paid teachers worked with senior students who in turn taught the junior students. The National Society was strongly supported by the Anglican clergy, Oxford and Cambridge universities, and the established church. The nonconformist Protestants were in strong opposition.

History

It was founded on 16 October 1811 as the ''"National Society for Promoting the Education of the Poor in the Principles of the Established Church in England and Wales"''. The

Church of England The Church of England (C of E) is the established Christian church in England and the mother church of the international Anglican Communion. It traces its history to the Christian church recorded as existing in the Roman province of Britain ...

, as the

established religion A state religion (also called religious state or official religion) is a religion or creed officially endorsed by a sovereign state. A state with an official religion (also known as confessional state), while not secular, is not necessarily a ...

, set out as the aim of the new organisation that "the National Religion should be made the foundation of National Education, and should be the first and chief thing taught to the poor, according to the excellent Liturgy and Catechism provided by our Church." One of the principal founders was

Joshua Watson Joshua Watson (1771–1855) was an English wine merchant, philanthropist, a prominent member of the high church party and of several charitable organisations, who became known as "the best layman in England". Life Joshua Watson was born on To ...

. The formation and early operation of the National Society was the origin of the liberal education policy founded in the 1830s.Akira Iwashita, "Politics, state and Church: forming the National Society 1805–c. 1818." ''History of Education'' 47.1 (2018): 1-17. Historically, schools founded by the National Society were called National Schools, as opposed to the

non-denominational A non-denominational person or organization is one that does not follow (or is not restricted to) any particular or specific religious denomination. Overview The term has been used in the context of various faiths including Jainism, Baháʼí Fait ...

"British schools" founded by the

. Following the success of the

Sunday school A Sunday school is an educational institution, usually (but not always) Christian in character. Other religions including Buddhism, Islam, and Judaism have also organised Sunday schools in their temples and mosques, particularly in the West. Su ...

movement, the

of education was developed almost simultaneously by Dr Andrew Bell and

Joseph Lancaster Joseph Lancaster (25 November 1778 – 23 October 1838) was an English Quaker and public education innovator. He developed, and propagated on the grounds both of economy and efficacy, a monitorial system of primary education. In the first deca ...

. Dr Bell was a clergyman in the Church of England and conducted an experiment with a monitorial school in Madras which he described in ''An Experiment in Education'' in 1797. Using this system and in opposition to the nondenominational Lancastrian Society, the Church of England set up the National Society for Promoting the Education of the Poor in the Principles of the Established Church. This monitorial system would dominate popular education for 50 years.

Present day

According to the society's website, "Five thousand Church of England and

Church in Wales The Church in Wales ( cy, Yr Eglwys yng Nghymru) is an Anglicanism, Anglican church in Wales, composed of six dioceses. The Archbishop of Wales does not have a fixed archiepiscopal see, but serves concurrently as one of the six diocesan bishop ...

schools, educating almost a million children and young people, are the heirs of that proud tradition."

References

External links

National Society website

The archives of the Society are held at the Church of England Record Centre
{{DEFAULTSORT:National Society (Church Of England And Church In Wales) For The Promotion Of Education Education in England Education in Wales Church of England societies and organisations Religious organizations established in 1811 1811 establishments in England Religious education in the United Kingdom

History

Present day

References

Further reading

External links