History of the Banks County Sunday School Celebration
July 5, 2010
Banks County's annual Sunday School Celebration is the longest running Christian gathering of it's kind in the world. It began it 1877 with the meetings being held in different churches in the county. Rev. D. Cran Oliver was the first Chairman in 1877 and the New Salem Methodist Church hosted the Convention. In 1878 Hebron Presbyterian Church was the host and Rev. Groves H. Cartledge was the Chairman. The next year was Bushville with Rev. Billy Brock. Mt Pleasant and Maysville also were host churches.
Since 1888 The Sunday School Celebration has been held in Homer. It was originally called "the Sunday School Convention."There were delegates who attended the State Convention. The churches of Banks County, of all denominations, came to together on the last Saturday of July at the "lay-by." Lay-by time was when all the crops were planted and before harvest time.
It was a day that the residents of Banks County looked forward to with anticipation. People arrived in wagons and buggies, or they walked to participate in the fellowship and fun. There were long tables where the picnic lunches were placed. The men would gather around the old well in front of the courthouse while the women sat on the front porch of nearby homes and listened to the church programs at the old stand near the well. The people could cool off with a cup of lemonade made in a washtub or homemade ice cream for 5 cents. People from all over, even other states, came to reconnect with family and friends while enjoying the food and festivities.
The Celebration's Moderator, who was elected by popular vote, assigned churches 30 minute time periods. The churches provided a program of singing and Bible reading. The Pastor usually spoke briefly and the people of Banks County worshiped.
Ladies dressed in fancy dresses and wore elaborate hats and bonnets. They carried ornate umbrellas or parasols. Some considered the frilly umbrellas status symbols and they provided much needed relief from the Summer sun. There were also hand held fans with funeral home advertisments on them. For many years, Dr. Jolly's office was only a few yards away which was helpful when someone would be overcome by the heat and humidity. At noon everyone would gather for the dinner on the grounds.
This year the 133rd Annual Sunday School Celebration will be held Saturday, July 31 at the Historic Courthouse in Homer. Everyone is invited to attend. Many changes have taken place throughout the years, but the people of Banks County still enjoy getting together the last week of July to fellowship, worship and share a dinner on the grounds.
Since 1888 The Sunday School Celebration has been held in Homer. It was originally called "the Sunday School Convention."There were delegates who attended the State Convention. The churches of Banks County, of all denominations, came to together on the last Saturday of July at the "lay-by." Lay-by time was when all the crops were planted and before harvest time.
It was a day that the residents of Banks County looked forward to with anticipation. People arrived in wagons and buggies, or they walked to participate in the fellowship and fun. There were long tables where the picnic lunches were placed. The men would gather around the old well in front of the courthouse while the women sat on the front porch of nearby homes and listened to the church programs at the old stand near the well. The people could cool off with a cup of lemonade made in a washtub or homemade ice cream for 5 cents. People from all over, even other states, came to reconnect with family and friends while enjoying the food and festivities.
The Celebration's Moderator, who was elected by popular vote, assigned churches 30 minute time periods. The churches provided a program of singing and Bible reading. The Pastor usually spoke briefly and the people of Banks County worshiped.
Ladies dressed in fancy dresses and wore elaborate hats and bonnets. They carried ornate umbrellas or parasols. Some considered the frilly umbrellas status symbols and they provided much needed relief from the Summer sun. There were also hand held fans with funeral home advertisments on them. For many years, Dr. Jolly's office was only a few yards away which was helpful when someone would be overcome by the heat and humidity. At noon everyone would gather for the dinner on the grounds.
This year the 133rd Annual Sunday School Celebration will be held Saturday, July 31 at the Historic Courthouse in Homer. Everyone is invited to attend. Many changes have taken place throughout the years, but the people of Banks County still enjoy getting together the last week of July to fellowship, worship and share a dinner on the grounds.
