Raikes

Raikes, ROBERT, originator of Sunday-schools, was born at Gloucester, September 14, 1735. His father was printer and proprietor of the Gloucester Journal, and he succeeded to the business, keeping it till 1802. He loved children all his days, and his pity for the misery and ignorance of many in his native city led him about 1780 to start a school where they might be taught to read and to repeat the Catechism. Accounts of the scheme in the columns of his journal attracted attention, the movement grew, and Raikes himself lived to see his schools widely spread over England. He died 5th April 1811, and was buried in the church of L'Mary de Crypt, Gloucester, all the children that attended his funeral being given by his directions a shilling and a plum-cake. See Lives by Gregory (1877), Eastman (1880), and Harris (1899).