Teaching to Preaching

Here is the programme of our first Welsh Heritage entry. Foundation Phase pupils learnt about Baglan Church school, the primary school in Baglan before Baglan Primary School.

When Mrs Morgan became our new headteacher she found lots of old photographs in her office. One was of our school surrounded by fields. She asked us if we could find out how old our school was and where the children went before Baglan Primary School was built. Here is a photograph of Baglan Church School.

We looked at old maps of Baglan to see how things have changed over time.

We drew pictures of Baglan Church School and used charcoal and pastels.

Baglan Church School is now a church, it's named St Baglan's Church.

We went on a walk to St Baglan's Church where Mrs John and Mr Victor met us. They showed us around the church and told us information about the church when it was a school.

Here is Mrs John

Here is Mr Victor

The inside of St Baglan's Church

Mr Victor showed us original aspects of the church

We were shown paintings of Baglan Church School

What we learnt from Mr Victor

Mr Victor told us that the school was cold then and if you needed the toilet you had to go outside in the cold, rain or even thunder and lightening!

If you were misbehaving you had to stand in the corner with your hands on your head but if you were misbehaving badly you had to hold out your hand and the teacher would whack you with a ruler!

The children were very poor then. They didn't have new clothes and they didn't have a school uniform. Some children didn't have money for school dinners so they just had sandwiches. No cake, no chocolate, no fruit.

At home time the children would collect their coats and put them over their shoulders like Batman's cloak. They would fly like Batman out through the streets because there were very few cars on the road.

Soon the school became very full and the children held hands and walked to their new school, Baglan primary school.

It was built in 1873 and used as a school until our present school was built and opened in 1952. From 1952 it was used as a school for children with learning difficulties during the week and then chairs were put out on a Saturday night so that church services could be held there on a Sunday. It was fully converted into a church in 1959.

We made a second visit to St Baglan's Church to join the congregation for a service. We took part in the service and sang some songs that used to be sung when it was Baglan Church School. We sang, 'Jesus Loves Me', 'Jesus Wants Me for a Sunbeam', and 'Jesus Binds Me Shine'. We made the congregation cry.

We also sang with members of the congregation who used to be pupils at Baglan Church School and Baglan Primary School.

After the service we were given squash and biscuits. A lovely end to a lovely morning!

Page updated

Report abuse