[2][3] One of the schools abandoned the practice of paying teachers and encouraged a large number of unpaid volunteers to do the job.
The consequent need for extra books, added to an increase of rent and other expenses, occasioned a demand beyond its proportion of the public subscription.
These circumstances led to this school becoming a separate institution independent of the rest, though agreeing with them in the general object, the mode of instruction, the books in use, and the subjects admitted.
In the year 1794, a separate committee published a report, entitling the institution, by way of distinction, the Methodists’ Sunday School, most of its promoters and active supporters being of that denomination.
Indeed, in 1811, a Mr Myddleton, vicar of St Thomas', Heaton Norris, reported to the Bishop: The Methodists and Calvinists together make about a half of the number of inhabitants.
The former much increased of late owing principally to this district bordering upon Stockport, which is considered as the focus of Methodism, and where is a Sunday School erected chiefly through their means, and capable of containing they say four thousand children.
The Health and Morals of Apprentices Act 1802 had attempted to ensure children were instructed in reading, writing and religion but it was not effectively policed.
It was supported by subscription, and was under the management of a committee elected from among the subscribers of a guinea and upwards, and of visitors chosen from among the persons actively engaged in the school.
[4] In later years the people moved to Heaviley, leaving the National Sunday School and Centenary Hall vacant.
[8] On 11 April 1861, two eight-year-old boys recently suspended from the school, Peter Barrett and James Bradley, killed two-year-old George Burgess.
There had been a precursor to this incident: on 31 March the pair had been suspended from Stockport Sunday School when they had ripped up two Bibles and other children's caps.