The Church Catechism Explained

First published in 1712, Lewis's 'Catechism' was swiftly recognised as a valuable aid to the teaching of scripture and liturgy. Dedicated to the SPCK, it seems to have become a standard tool of the newly-formed charity schools, where pupils were regularly assessed on their prowess in responding to the vicar's catechism. Symson's letters reveal that the text that guided their learning was Lewis's; one of three books (the others being the Bible itself and Allestree's 'The Whole Duty of Man') that White Kennett of the SPCK hoped would help turn young children into 'little garrisons against Popery'. (See Jones, 'The Charity School Movement', 1995, p.14). John Lewis (1675-1747) was educated at Exeter College Oxford, ordained in 1698 and served as vicar of Minster in Kent from 1709 until his death (interestingly, he is given on the title of the present edition as 'Minister of Margate in Kent'). His works include biographies of Wycliffe, Caxton and Pecock, valuable topographical studies of Kent and numerous contributions to religious history and bibliography.This Lincolnshire edition must be unusually scarce for we can find no reference to it in any standard source. J Mozley is the first recorded printer at Gainsborough where he established his press in 1778. H[enry] Mozley (the present printer) appears to have succeeded him sometime in the late 1790s. Not listed in BLPC or NLC.