As I retool this site as a blogzine, I’m reviewing several features from the past including Vintage Religion. These posts featured religious and/or church-themed pictures, graphics and ephemera from generations past.
The Sunday School promotion certificate above is dated September 29, 1929. It recognized Agnes Speck for her promotion to the Intermediate Department at a Methodist church. It also honored her for “Four Work Books, Illustrated Hymn Church Attendance and Extra Memory Work.” It’s signed by the Sunday Superintendent and the Pastor.
Promotion Sunday
In evangelical and mainline churches in America, Promotion Sunday is a big deal. It’s the day children are formally recognized for moving from one class to the next. When I was a kid you usually got a certificate, though not as fancy as the one Agnes received. It was an even bigger deal if you were bridging over from the primary department to the juniors or from the junior to the big teen group.
This certificate honors Phyllis Edith Hurd who was promoted from the Cradle Roll Department of the South Dayton M.E. Sunday School to the Beginners Departments. It’s dated September 9, 1927.
This certificate is more like the ones I received as a kid. It honors Catherine Wible on September 15, 1963. She was moving from the Junior Department to 9th grade. God bless her teacher Esther Salisbury and may she rest in peace.
Do you remember Promotion Sunday as a kid?
You brought back some memories. I may have had the exact same certificate as your 1960’s example. My Dad still has some of his from the 30’s and they are pretty elaborate.