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Learning to Read, Learning Religion: Catechism primers in Europe from the sixteenth to the nineteenth centuries
Edited by Britta Juska-Bacher, M.O. Grenby, Tuija Laine and Wendelin Sroka
[Children’s Literature, Culture, and Cognition 14] 2023
► pp. 177–190

3.9
Catechism primers in England

Editor
| Newcastle University
Article outline
  • Schooling and religion in England: Sixteenth to nineteenth century
  • Primers and catechisms in England
  • State of research and availability of sources
  • Primer catechisms and catechism primers
  • Authorship and use
  • Later history
  • Two examples of primers
  • Reading primers and catechisms (in chronological order)
  • Secondary sources
Published online: 6 January 2023
DOI logo
https://doi.org/10.1075/clcc.14.16gre
References (36)
Reading primers and catechisms (in chronological order)
[Note: most of these titles are available via ProQuest’s Early English Books Online or Gale’s Eighteenth Century Collections Online.]
Anon. c. 1537–42. The ABC with the Pater Noster, Ave, Credo and X Commaundements in Englyshe, Newly Translated and Set Forthe at the Kyngs Most Gracyouse Commaundement. London: Richard Lant.Google Scholar
1551. The ABC with the Catechisme, That is to Say an Instruction to be [Taught and] Learned by Every Childe [Person], Before He be Brought to be Confirmed by the Bishop. Various imprints.Google Scholar
1570. The Primer and Catechisme. Various imprints.Google Scholar
Vaux, Laurence. 1580. Godly Contemplations for the Unlearned. Rothomagi [Rouen]: Henricum Mareschalum.Google Scholar
Stockwood, John. 1580. A Short Catechisme for Householders. With Prayerse to the Same Adioyning. London: John Charlewood.Google Scholar
Coote, Edmund. 1596. The English school-master, teaching all his scholars, of what age forever the most easie, short, and perfect order of distinct reading, and true writing our English tongue, that hath ever yet been known or published by any. London: Company of Stationers.Google Scholar
Owen, John. 1652. The Primer: or, An Easie Way to Teach Children the True Reading of English. With a Necessary Catechisme, to Instruct Youth in the Grounds of Christian Religion. London: Company of Stationers.Google Scholar
Taylor, Jeremy. 1652. A short catechism for the institution of young persons in the Christian religion to which is added, an explication of the Apostolical Creed, easie and useful for these times. Composed for the use of the schools in South-Wales. London: R. Royston.Google Scholar
Anon. 1698. The ABC with the Catechism, That is to say an Instruction to be Learned of Every Person, Before he be Brought to be Confirmed by the Bishop. London: Stationers.Google Scholar
Keach, Benjamin. 1763. Instructions for Children: Or, The Child’s and Youth’s Delight. Southwark: John Robinson.Google Scholar
Watts, Isaac. 1730. Catechisms: or, Instructions in the Principles of Christian Religion, and the History of Scripture, Composed for Children and Youth, According to their Different Ages. London: E. Matthews.Google Scholar
[Fox,] G[eorge] & H[ookes, ]E[llis]. 1670. A Primmer and Catechism for Children: or a Plain and Easie Way for Children to Learn to Spell and Read Perfectly in a Little Time. [London]: n. p.Google Scholar
Anon. 1743. The Child’s New Play-Thing: Being a Spelling-Book Intended To make the Learning to Read, a Diversion instead of a Task. London: M. Cooper.Google Scholar
Fisher, Daniel. 1759. The Child's Christian Education: or, Spelling and Reading Made Easy. London: B. Dod.Google Scholar
Darby, Abiah. 1763. Useful Instruction for Children. 1754. London: Luke Hinde.Google Scholar
Joseph Priestley. 1767. A Catechism, for Children, and Young Persons. London: J. Johnson.Google Scholar
Claus, Daniel. 1781. A Primer for the Use of the Mohawk Children: To Acquire the Spelling and Reading of their own, as well as to get acquainted with the English Tongue. Montreal: F. Mesplets.Google Scholar
Anon. 1799. The Child's New Spelling Primer; or, First book for children. To which is added the stories of Cinderilla, and the Little Red Riding Hood. Dublin: T. Wilkinson.Google Scholar
1804. The ABC with the Catechism, That is to say an Instruction to be Learned of Every Person, Before he be Brought to be Confirmed by the Bishop. Salisbury: B. C. Collins.Google Scholar
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