Of the churches several were entirely destroyed. In all cases the edifices were injured, organs disordered and windows shattered. Parishes were in some instances almost wiped out. In a single congregation four hundred and four perished. In another nearly two hundred were killed, the remainder losing their property. In a third, of the one hundred and eight houses represented in the congregation only fourteen were left standing. Hurried efforts were made to safeguard church property, but church services were not generally resumed until the second Sunday.[104] Even then the congregations were small and the worshipping-places were not in all cases churches. Theatres, halls and other buildings housed many a religious gathering. While the restoration of churches waited, clergy and church workers gave themselves unremittingly to the relief of the needy, the succor of the injured and the burial of the dead. Their intimate knowledge of family conditions was of inestimable value in the relief administration. Sunday schools were reassembled as accommodations permitted, but it was many months before the attendances approximated the normal. [104] On the first Sunday, December ninth at eleven o'clock Archdeacon Armitage conducted Divine service in St. Paul's Church, and the same afternoon this edifice was used by the congregation of All Saints Cathedral. The school system was badly disorganized. Three buildings were totally destroyed, and all were rendered uninhabitable for some time. The loss was approximately eight-hundred thousand dollars. The members of the staff were given over to relief committees, registration, nursing and clothing service. Early in March, about three months after the explosion, arrangements were completed whereby nearly all the children in the city could attend classes. The double-session system was introduced to accomplish this. Rooms were necessarily over-crowded and ventilation impaired. By May eighth, fifteen school buildings were in use.[105] [105] Quinn, J. P., _Report of Board of School Commissioners for City of Halifax_, 1918. Progress in reopening schools is indicated by the following schedule. Dec. 10 ................ classes in one institution Jan. 7 ................ " " three emergency shelters Jan. 8 ................ " " a church hall Jan. 14 ................ " " five school buildings Jan. 17 ................ " " one institution Jan. 21 ................ " " two school buildings Jan. 22 ................ " " one school building Jan. 24 ................ " " one school building Feb. 1 ................ " " one institution Feb. 25 ................ " " two school buildings Mar. 16 ................ " " one school building Apr. 8 ................ " " one school building May 8 ................ " " one school building May 20 ................ " " two portable schools