Church penitentiary

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Alma Mansion, Barnet, formerly St Saviour's Homes Alma Mansion - geograph.org.uk - 1085135.jpg
Alma Mansion, Barnet, formerly St Saviour's Homes

The original church penitentiary for the reclamation of fallen women was founded in 1806 in London. There most well known centre was set up by former British prime minister William Ewart Gladstone in 1848. Its aim was the convent-based rehabilitation of women, including prostitutes, thieves, the homeless, alcoholics etc. They were charitable organisations and not in place for the punishment of crimes.

The Church Penitentiary Association existed from 1852 until 1951. There are records on the association in the Library at Lambeth Palace, the seat of the Archbishop of Canterbury in London, [1] and in the National Archives. [2]

These also have holdings on related societies such as the Navvy Mission Society (now Industrial Christian Fellowship), [3] the Temperance Council of the Christian Churches (now the Churches Council on Alcohol and Drugs) the Church of England Council for Social Aid, the Band of Hope (1855–1990), and the Church Moral Aid Society (1852–1892).

Rescue work for unmarried mothers: [4]

An example of a nonconformist institution of this kind is the Manchester and Salford Asylum for female penitents, Embden Place Greenheys. [5]

See also

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Ulster Female Penitentiary and Laundry or Edgar Home, was a Mother and Baby home in Brunswick Street, Belfast. It evolved out of an institution founded in 1816. It was initially non-denominational. It was greatly expanded and developed when it came under Presbyterian control and Rev. John Edgar and the new home was opened in November 1839. Other denominations had their similar institutions in Belfast, such as the Catholic Good Shepherd Home, Ballynafeigh, and the Anglican Ulster Magdalene Asylum, Donegall Pass, also established in 1839.

References

  1. Lambeth Palace archives
  2. National Archives
  3. [ permanent dead link ]
  4. Unmarried mothers
  5. The sixteenth report of the Manchester and Salford Asylum for female penitents, Embden Place Greenheys: with a list of the subscribers and benefactors for 1839. Manchester: Printed by William Simpson, 1839