Continuous tradition since 27 July 1889 — older than the Church itself [Current Superintendent / lead teacher — to confirm]
The Sunday School at Harlesden Baptist Church is older than the Church. It first met on the afternoon of Sunday 27 July 1889 — nine months before the church fellowship was formally constituted on 8 May 1890 — with six teachers and thirteen children. By 1900 the Sunday School had grown to attract 83 children in the morning and 230 in the afternoon, against a church membership of 286.
The Sunday School teachers steward what HBC has always understood as the foundation of a lifelong walk with Christ. The list of Sunday School Superintendents alone reads as a history of HBC’s most faithful servants:
Mr Thomas Lockington — appointed Superintendent in December 1901; deacon 1902–1936; finally church secretary
Miss Pierce — second woman deacon (1923–33); served the Sunday School for 31 years before retiring through ill-health in July 1933
Miss May Royston — member since 1915; Girls Brigade captain 1933–46; deacon and life deacon from 1944; served the Sunday School and “in many other ways”
Mr Albert Satterthwaite (1901–1984) — Superintendent from February 1953; deacon and life deacon from 1959; built much of Unity Hall; his woodworking skills are commemorated in the carved memorial beneath the back gallery
Mrs A. G. J. Coates (with husband Mr Coates) — served from at least 1897 in the Sunday School, Young People’s societies, cycling club, missionary collection and church secretaryship; retired to the Essex coast in the early 1930s
Miss Lily Tyrrell (1891–1982) — “Sunshine Lily” — distributed the “Sunshine Flowers” and worked in the Sunday School for many years, never holding prominent office but standing in the words of the centenary historian “for the host of members not mentioned much in official histories who serve faithfully and are remembered by many”
The teaching ministry continues today across the three age stages of Juniors (3–7), Primary (8–11) and Bible Class (12–16). Sister Claudette Witter led the Bible Class / Junior Church teaching ministry in 2015.
Sources: [125th] pp. 51–52; [Centenary] pp. 6–7, 10–18; [Scrap] (Mrs Coates farewell); [Web History].