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Serbian School at the Church of the Holy Trinity
2004, the Holy Trinity Parish
From the very early days of the community settling in West Yorkshire, efforts have always been made to run supplementary classes to teach the Serbian language, culture and history. In the late 50s and early 60s a regular Saturday school was held at the Serbian Club on Walmer Villas, Manningham Lane, Bradford. There were well over 50 children who attended regularly and were taught by teachers who were also forced to leave their homeland: Mico Martinović and Gina Korac. As the community then dispersed into West Yorkshire and Lancashire, Father Valerijan Štrbac ran a regular Saturday school on New Zetland Street, Wakefield in the mornings and at St Columba’s Church on Horton Grange Road, Bradford in the afternoons (for about 30 children), prior to the move to Bradford.
Then, from 1982 until 1985 Rada Mijailović (née Djurdjević) and Mirjana Tica (née Djapić) held a regular Sunday school at the Bradford Church, with regular input from Father Miroslav Lazarević for religious education.
From 1997 until February 2003, Marija Krlić then continued with the next phase of the life of the parish school, which is made up of mainly second-generation children. Dr Milos Lukić is now the current teacher of the school and holds lessons mainly in English for ages ranging from 4 until 17. There is always a fun element with regular trips to the pantomime and other venues. Recently, the whole school and its parents went on a trip to Scotland.
If any parents are reading this, then please bring your children along. Lessons are usually held every second Saturday with a start time of 11.00am and the dates can be found at the back of the hall on the notice board or visit our website.
These are a few of the comments of the current pupils:
David Lukić, 12
As well as learning about the orthodox religion I have learnt how to speak and read some Cyrillic. We learn about the history of Yugoslavia, the saints of the past and how to dance.
Marija Maya Mijakovac, 10 and Susana Lukić, 11
We love coming to Sunday School because it is fun and we learn a lot. We learn the difference between good and bad and learn new words. On special occasions we recite poems and dance, this is very fun. After Sunday School we go into church then learn the dances. So we don’t get tired our parents/the teacher provides food for us to eat. WE LOVE SUNDAY SCHOOL!!!
Serbian School - Manningham Lane,
Bradford