Religious studies and devotionals

From early on, deaf people received tuition in the basic concepts of Christianity through signs and picture Bibles. Since the Reformation, deaf people could participate in communion if they were able to express their desire to do so. In contrast, attending confirmation studies only became possible in the mid-19th century when the first schools for the deaf began operations. These studies were usually held in schools for the deaf, and after they had been completed, the deaf pupils could attend confirmation and participate in communion.

Typically, deaf people only began to receive religious education at school and the goal of the education was to raise them to become useful Christian members of the society. Religious tuition began during the first years of school with biblical stories and then with the study of the catechism. Devotionals and church services were also arranged in schools.

In the 19th century, many of the teachers and headmasters in the schools for the deaf were ministers. The head of the Turku school for the deaf was Carl Henrik Alopaeus who had been ordained. In addition to teaching, he offered pastoral care and  confirmation studies in 1860–1881 to more than 250 deaf people.

In the 1890s, deaf people began to arrange religious gatherings themselves. Helsinki’s deaf association began to arrange devotionals and lectures in 1896. For example in Helsinki, Turku and Vyborg, deaf people could participate in events held by ministers who worked in the schools for the deaf.