Bennett Street Sunday school, 1801-1966 : a Manchester history

At the turn of the 1800s while Jane Austen was writing and George III was on the throne, Manchester, like many newly industrialised cities throughout England, was a place of deprivation and strife.

Children as young as five years of age were malnourished and impoverished working long hours in factories and mills.

David Stott, an innovative philanthropist and part of the Sunday School Movement, founded Bennett Street Sunday School for families living in New Cross and Ancoats.

Through tireless dedication he introduced them to the Bible, educated and implemented social and welfare reforms for them decades before legislation caught up.

By doing so he provided a haven alleviating, at a local level, some of the abhorrent conditions which the working classes endured.

This book chronicles the extraordinary history of Bennett Street Sunday School which, with the aid of benefactors, Visitors, donors and supporters - not least L S Lowry, transformed the lives of tens of thousands, young and old, for over 150 years.