UCL BLOOMSBURY PROJECT

History

It was founded in 1861 by Rev. Thomas Pelham Dale and others to be a “residential society of ladies for charitable parish work for the poor” (Oxford Dictionary of National Biography)

Dale became its Secretary and Chaplain, while his relative by marriage Elizabeth Ferard, first Deaconess in the Church of England from 1862, became its Head Sister (Oxford Dictionary of National Biography)

Differences about its purpose led Dale to resign in 1868; the organisation was thereafter run by Elizabeth Ferard (Oxford Dictionary of National Biography), with Edward H. Singer as its Hon. Secretary (MS Tait 149 ff 346–7, 1868, Lambeth Palace Library)

Louisa Twining was also a supporter (Louisa Twining, Recollections of Life and Work: Being the Autobiography of Louisa Twining, 1893)

In 1873 the Institution began appealing for funds to move to bigger premises; Elsie Day wrote to The Times to say that its nursing work was “most seriously impeded by the inadequate accommodation which their present house affords”, as it had only enough space for ten patients in four rooms (The Times, 21 February 1873)

They were hoping to gain extra rooms, a Dispensary, and space to add a chapel (The Times, 21 February 1873)

At that time, the main activities of the deaconesses apparently included receiving incurable patients who were not admitted into ordinary hospitals, nursing the sick poor in their own homes, and promoting sanitary and religious reform (The Times, 21 February 1873)

Its name was changed to the London Diocesan Deaconess Institution in 1869, and to the Deaconess Community of St Andrew in 1943 (Oxford Dictionary of National Biography, entry on Elizabeth Ferard)

It was integrated into the Church of England in 1987 (Oxford Dictionary of National Biography, entry on Elizabeth Ferard)

It continues as a religious order of women within the Church of England, in pastoral and caring roles

It is a registered charity established under the original deed of trust of 1861