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 A prime minister, premier or chief of cabinet is the head of the cabinet and the leader of the ministers in the executive branch of government, often in a parliamentary or semi-presidential system. Under those systems, a prime minister i ...

William Ewart Gladstone William Ewart Gladstone ( ; 29 December 1809 – 19 May 1898) was a British statesman and Liberal politician. In a career lasting over 60 years, he served for 12 years as Prime Minister of the United Kingdom, spread over four non-conse ...

in 1848. Its aim was the

convent A convent is a community of monks, nuns, religious brothers or, sisters or priests. Alternatively, ''convent'' means the building used by the community. The word is particularly used in the Catholic Church, Lutheran churches, and the Anglic ...

-based rehabilitation of women, including prostitutes,

thieves Theft is the act of taking another person's property or services without that person's permission or consent with the intent to deprive the rightful owner of it. The word ''theft'' is also used as a synonym or informal shorthand term for some ...

, the homeless,

alcoholic Alcoholism is, broadly, any drinking of alcohol that results in significant mental or physical health problems. Because there is disagreement on the definition of the word ''alcoholism'', it is not a recognized diagnostic entity. Predomina ...

s 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, and in the National Archives. These also have holdings on related societies such as the Navvy Mission Society (now Industrial Christian Fellowship), the Temperance Council of the Christian Churches (now the Churches Council on Alcohol and Drugs) the

Church of England The Church of England (C of E) is the established Christian church in England and the mother church of the international Anglican Communion. It traces its history to the Christian church recorded as existing in the Roman province of Britai ...

Council for Social Aid, the

Band of Hope Hope UK is a United Kingdom Christian charity based in London, England which educates children and young people about drug and alcohol abuse. Local meetings started in 1847 and a formal organisation was established in 1855 with the name The Uni ...

(1855–1990), and the Church Moral Aid Society (1852–1892). Rescue work for unmarried mothers: An example of a nonconformist institution of this kind is the Manchester and Salford Asylum for female penitents, Embden Place Greenheys.''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

References

* ''Prostitution: Prevention and Reform in England, 1860–1914'' by Paula Bartle; London: Routledge, 1999; pp. i–xi, 1–229 {{DEFAULTSORT:Church Penitentiary Social welfare charities based in the United Kingdom Women's prisons 1806 in England 19th century in England Criminal justice Women in history Patriarchy Prostitution law

See also

References