St George's Mission
from the English
Church Union Kalendar 1863
St George's
Mission, St George-in-the-East
The parish of St. George-in-the-East was originally formed out of the
parish of Stepney, with a population of 48,000, of which three
ecclesiastical districts take about 22,000, leaving 26,000 to the
mother church. At the time the Mission was commenced one of these
ecclesiastical districts had not been formed, so that about 30,000
souls were left to the care of the rector and two other clergy. Within
the boundaries of this parish lies the greater portion of the London
Docks. Ratcliff Highway, so notorious for deeds of violence, scenes of
debauchery, and flagrant vice, runs right through, and is chiefly
contained within it. Its population is for the most part connected with
the docks or river and contains many foreigners, and it abounds in
lodging houses for sailors, public houses, dancing and concert-rooms,
and various low places of amusement. The Church, at the time of the
founding of the Mission, had little influence in this district, though
the rector had for years consistently fulfilled his duties in the
Church itself. The parish church is a classical structure, erected
about seventy years ago, and is filled with pews, ill-adapted to
Christian worship, and specially to the wants of the poor. When the
rector wished the Mission work to commence in and around the parish
church, it seemed hopeless to bring the poor into such a building. The
schools, though enjoying a liberal endowment, yet being in the hands of
lay trustees, were permitted to go on in their mediocrity. A small
Sunday school was attached to the parish church, and an infant school
of about seventy children founded by a parishioner as a mark of respect
to the rector. There was also a proprietary chapel, which has since
been consecrated, with an ecclesiastical district attached, under the
name of St. Matthew, and which has good schools in connection with it.
This was the whole religious machinery of the Church brought to bear
upon 30,000 souls at the time of the commencement of St. George's
Mission.
On Ash Wednesday, 1856, the Rev. C. F. Lowder and a friend commenced
the Mission work. The spot chosen for their first attempt was a
workshop at the end of a small court in Ratcliff-highway, where a
Sunday school had been held. Here they preached and prayed with a few
persons gathered together by some handbills circulated in the parish.
This was continued for a fortnight, two clergy going down three times
in the week. From inquiries which were then made it was found that the
usual attendants at these services for the most part belonged to the
parish church; and, as in such an extensive parish the room seemed too
near the church, it was resolved to seek a more distant spot for their
operations. This was soon found in a room in one of the most miserable
alleys in the parish, near the river, and a new beginning was made the
same evening. No sooner, however, had the hymn commenced than a violent
opposition displayed itself on the part of the Irish who swarmed in the
alley, and who on the first evening interrupted and almost frustrated
all attempts at preaching by their clamour and violence; many
dangerous missiles flying at the heads of the preachers, and frequent
attacks on the doors and themselves, overpowering their exhortations
and prayers. This was continued with more or less energy for another
fortnight, when they were left to fulfil their work in peace. But, as
they became better acquainted with the district and more interested in
its spiritual condition, they felt that it would be hopeless to expect
any permanent good from such desultory attempts. Accordingly, the
Mission agreed to furnish the rector with missionary curates; and a
house was taken in the very centre of the district, in which the
Services had been latterly held, and not far from the spot itself.
In July, 1856, the Mission took possession of their House in
Calvert-street. The district contains more than 6,000 souls, of whom
perhaps a third are Irish Roman Catholics. A room was at once opened in
the House, with the license of the Bishop of London, for daily prayers
and frequent preaching, and here was gradually gathered a little
congregation. A small choir of boys was formed, and classes were held
for instruction in the Bible and preparation for Holy Communion. Even
then the Mission was not free from disturbance, and generally one
priest took charge of the door, while the other conducted the service.
However, a beginning was made; and the bell daily witnessed for God in
a district which knew little of prayer or the blessings of the Gospel.
An evening Sunday school was also commenced, and on Sunday afternoons
the missionaries preached from the steps of the parish church. On the
Thursday before Advent in the same year a temporary iron chapel was
opened for Divine Service in the garden of the Mission-house, which was
able to accommodate 200 persons. This chapel is frequently thronged on
Sunday evenings, and often with attendances of forty or fifty during
the week.
The Mission was joined at this time by one or two laymen, candidates
for Holy Orders. Two ladies had also joined it, and opened a small
school at their lodgings, and acted as district visitors. In the
spring, however, of 1857 another lady who had already been engaged in
works of charity at the head of a Religious House offered her services
to the Mission, which were gladly accepted; and another house was taken
near Calvert-street, where she was soon joined by others, and the
Sisterhood commenced in a more regular way, opening a day school for
girls, taking one or two into the house to be trained for service, and
visiting the sick and poor. About the same time also another opening
for mission work in the parish presented itself. A church in
Wellclose-square, in the western part of St. George's (Calvert-street
being in the south-east), built in 1696 for the Danes living in this
part of the metropolis, afterwards used by Boatswain Smith, and
latterly by the British and Foreign Sailors' Society, was vacant. The
Mission at once resolved on renting it of the trustees, and, after some
necessary repairs and alterations, Service was commenced in Lent, and
it was formally opened soon after Easter. A Mission-house was now
opened in Wellclose-square, and a small school attached to it in a
loft, kindly lent for the purpose by a neighbour. They obtained also
the services of a schoolmaster in Calvert-street, and a boys' school
was commenced in the Mission-house. In September a further change was
made. The clergy were united in Wellclose-square; the Sisters moved
into the Mission-house in Calvert-street; and the schools into the
former house of the Sisterhood: and this arrangement, with few
alterations, has continued ever since.
Of the Penitentiary work and Industrial Schools connected with St.
George's Mission mention is made under the head of "Hendon House of
Mercy and St. Stephen's Home". A great deal has been done to further
the objects of the Mission by open-air preaching. On almost every
Sunday in the summer sermons were delivered in one of the districts;
and any circumstance which might be taken advantage of was turned to
account in the same way. At times violent opposition attended these
attempts, — so much so, that it was with difficulty that the
clergy and choristers were able to escape. The work of the Mission has
however steadily advanced, and at present the following is the list of
Services conducted by the Mission. Besides the daily celebration at the
Chapel of the Good Shepherd in Calvert-street, Mattins is said daily at
St. Saviour's, Wellclose-square, and Evensong in both chapels at 8 p.m.
Litany is said on Wednesdays and Fridays at 12.15, and on festivals
Mattins is said at 11. Sermons are preached on Wednesday and Friday
evenings, and on Eves. During Advent and Lent courses of sermons,
sometimes by other clergy, are preached, and confirmation, communicant,
and other classes are held on some appointed evenings, either before or
after service. On Sundays there are celebrations at 8a.m; morning
prayer, litany, and sermons at 11; services for the children of the
schools at 3.30 p.m., and occasionally baptisms; and evening prayer
with sermons at 7. After this there are Bible or communion classes for
those who wish to attend. There are good congregations on Sunday
evenings, and on the evenings of the week there are between twenty and
fifty attendants in each chapel.
Mention has already been made of a small infant school under the rector
of St. George's in one of the Mission districts. This he placed under
the management of the Mission, and from this small beginning of seventy
children the numbers have gradually increased until this year there are
700. The boys' school in Calvert-street, first commenced in a room of
the Mission-house, has, after one other change, been carried on for the
last two years in the former infant school in Old Gravel-lane. The
girls' and infant schools are in the house adjoining that of the
Sisters, and under their care and management. The boys' school was
started under a master who has since been ordained deacon by the Bishop
of Oxford, and is now working in the Central African Mission; he has
been succeeded by a master trained at St. Mark's and certificated, so
that now they have the help of pupil teachers and a grant from
Government. The school has been already inspected, and it is hoped that
the result will procure some help in carrying it on. The numbers have
gradually increased to upwards of 100, but unfortunately space will not
allow of the extension of this number until additions can be made, or
schools built. There is the same difficulty in the infant school, which
is overcrowded, though the children are divided in two rooms.
In Wellclose-square the second school, commenced in a loft close to the
former Mission-house under a very energetic teacher, who for some time
volunteered her services, grow so large that it was necessary to divide
it, and there are now three schools, — one for boys, another
for
girls, and a third for infants. These make up altogether six schools.
They are taught very carefully in school and in church the fundamental
doctrines of the faith. The hymns, canticles, and litany, which they
sing with much spirit and understanding, make them consider the
Services of the Church a privilege; and, though there may be
disappointments in those who leave when their school-time is over,
still the choir among the boys, and the industrial school among the
girls, are not without effect in still retaining a hold upon them.
From the education of the children the Mission was led on to establish
some institution for working-men, and they were enabled to begin this
work when help was least expected. At the time when the parish church
was closed, after the first outbreak of the riots, the mob,
disappointed in their weekly opportunity of profane violence, made some
attempts on the Mission chapels. This brought several offers of help
from strangers living in a distant part of London. One of these, seeing
the danger from the mob soon over, transferred his services to the
parish church, and was then more than ever impressed with the necessity
of doing something to win the working classes of the parish to the side
of order and religion. He accordingly proposed to the mission to open
an Institute for them, which should provide the newspaper and
periodical literature of the day, lectures, classes, and opportunities
of rational amusement, such as chess, draughts, &e. This was
first
commenced and carried on during the winter in the boys' schoolroom,
and, although the arrangements were not so satisfactory as could be
desired, yet a very fair beginning was made. At any rate, the promoter
felt encouraged to enlarge very considerably his original plan, and to
secure more convenient promises. A good house next to the Mission-house
was taken, the founder moving into it himself as resident honorary
secretary, a very attractive programme of lectures, classes, and other
advantages, was put forth, and the new season opened under very
favourable auspices. Reading-rooms for two classes with varying
payments were opened, a smoking and conversation room in which coffee
was provided at cost price, a circulating library, and a separate room
for boys. Classes in reading, writing, and arithmetic were carried on,
as well as in singing, French, and drawing; for the latter some casts
were kindly presented by Mr. Ruskin; many presents of books were also
made for the library, and several very excellent teachers connected
with the Working Man's College in Great Ormond-street kindly gave their
services. A large number of members soon joined, and during the year
1860 about 400 were admitted. The Mission, however, has never made
itself responsible for the support of the Institute.
There are already four houses in Wellclose-square connected with the
work of the Mission. Next to the Mission-house is the Working Man's
Institute, which, though under its own committee, is in open connection
with the Mission; opposite are two houses, in one of which are the
boys' and girls schools, and the mistresses live; at the back
of
the other is the infant school. The Mission household meets for prayer
soon after 7 a.m. and at 10 p.m., and the clergy keep the other hours
of prayer.
House of
Mercy, Hendon
The penitentiary work of the Mission began on the removal of the
Sisters to Calvert-street. The task was a difficult one, but in a short
time sixteen girls from the streets were housed in the Refuge. It was
found however that confinement in London was too much for them,
especially in the midst of their former haunts. A house was accordingly
taken for them at Sutton in Surrey in 1858, while the head-quarters
remained as a Refuge in Calvert-street. In 1860 a further change was
decided upon and after much difficulty the premises at Hendon were met
with and taken on a lease of twenty years. They are situated on a high
and healthy spot three miles beyond Hampstead. The old buildings were
originally almshouses, to which had been added schoolrooms and
dormitories, and the whole occupied by the children belonging to the
workhouse of the parish. The former portion, by throwing down ceilings
and partitions, are now converted into a washhouse, drying chambers
heated by hot air, ironing, sorting, packing rooms, of London are
received as probationers, so far as room allows. After six weeks or two
months of good behaviour, they are formally received with a religious
service, and then are considered among the regular inmates of the House
; whilst after a sufficient term of trial they are prepared for
Confirmation, and subsequently for Holy Communion. The routine of the
House is as follows : — 5 a.m., rise ; 5.30, private prayer ;
5.45, industrial work ; 6.45, prayers in chapel; 7, breakfast; 7.30,
industrial work ; 12, dinner ; 12.30, midday prayers in chapel, and
recreation; 1, industrial work; 4, tea ; 4.30, work ; 7, Bible class
and reading ; 8, last Service in chapel and private prayers. The
following, extracted from an account written in 1801, gives the results
of the penitentiary work at that time : — Out of 100 who,
since
the commencement of the work in 1857, have been formally admitted,
after about two months' probation, there have been sent to service, 21;
restored to friends, 10; sent to other penitentiaries, 8; Bent to
hospitals and workhouses, 6 ; married, 1 ; emigrated, 1 ; died, 4 ;
still at Hendon, 18 ; dismissed or left of their own accord, 31.
Besides these a large number have stayed for a shorter time, but either
from not being able to boar the discipline, or other causes, have left
; and though for the most part it has been impossible to trace them,
yet there is reason to hope that some proportion have been benefitted
by their temporary sojourn.
[In 1861 the Ladies' Ecclesiastical Embroidery Society made an altar
cloth for the chapel]
St
Stephen's Industrial School
An Industrial School was among the early works of this Mission. Having
a small beginning in Calvert-street, similar to the Penitentiary, it
was in like manner removed to Hendon, where it is now carried on under
the name of St. Stephen's Home. The children are here under the
spiritual charge of the chaplain of the House of Mercy, and attend the
daily services in the chapel.
St George's
Sisterhood
It remains to give some account of the Sisterhood attached to St.
George's Mission. The Society consists of the Warden, the Mother
Superior, the Confirmed, Probationer, and Lay Sisters. The Probationer
Sisters are those who, after a visit of some months' duration in the
Sisterhood, during which time they live and work with the Sisters, and
under the same rules of discipline, desire to be admitted on probation.
After they have completed two years of probation, and desire to devote
themselves altogether to a Sister's life, they are confirmed. The Lay
or Serving Sisters are those of a lower rank of life, who fulfil the
household duties or attend to assigned departments with the penitents
or children of the Industrial School. These have a longer probation
than the other Sisters. Besides these there are Associate Sisters,
i.e., ladies living in the world, who have domestic or other ties which
prevent their entire devotion to a Sister's life, and yet are able to
spend some time every year in the Sisterhood ; and outside these again
there are the Associates of the House, who undertake the collection of
alms and obtaining the interest of friends for the Mission generally.
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