Aged Poor Society

The Aged Poor Society was established in 1708 as a benevolent Catholic charity to give permanent relief to poor Catholics of 'good character', at a time when it was a capital offence for a priest to say Mass. The Annual Report for 1820 reminded its supporters that 'The Aged Poor Society has met with the approbation and support of many persons equally distinguished for piety and learning, among whom our venerable and illustrous prelates have held first rank'. Other Catholic societies were also established in London during the 18th century which provided pensions and other support to aged poor, for example the Benevolent Society for the Aged and Infirm Poor, founded in 1761.

In 1851, the Aged Poor Society founded Saint Joseph's Alms Houses on the same plot as the new Catholic church at Brook Green, Hammersmith. The first foundation stones were laid by the Countess of Arundel and Surrey. In 1852 Miss J Molineux, of Curzon Street, Mayfair left a bequest of £1,740 to the Society, setting up the Molineux Trust and Pension Funds, which was used to complete building work at Brook Green, and later donations from the family were distributed as pensions among aged poor cared for by the Society. Donations also came from anonymous donors and T J Eyre.

Relief of the poor was achieved by:
a) the payment of pensions or making of allowances,
b) the provision of almshouses or other accommodation,
c) the maintenance and support of beneficiaries,
d) other charitable means.

In 1915 the Society reported that 130 weekly pensioners were receiving payments of £4 for men and £3 for women, and that 'among other benevolent works, the society grants pensions of £26 per annum to 40 aged and necessitous Catholics who must be persons "reduced from a superior station of society." The same condition applies to those who are admitted to almshouses conducted by the society at Hammersmith, some of whom are also eligible for an endowment of £20 a year'.

The Society was run by the following:
Governors: persons who have given not less than £20 in one payment to the Society, or an annual subscription payment
Officers: the President, not more than five Vice Presidents, and the Treasurer (all appointed by the Governors)
Directors: the President, Vice President, and Treasurer and five other members elected by the Governors Secretary (appointed by the Directors).

The Duke of Norfolk became President of the Society from 1874 and Patrons included the Archbishop of Westminster (1916), the Bishop of Southwark (1916), and the Bishop of Brentwood (1930).

During the 19th and 20th centuries, the Society had offices at the following premises:
37 Gerrard Street (1861)
Room 18, 82 Victoria Street (1916-1920)
60 Victoria Street (1930)
38 Eccleston Square (1931-1936)
39 Eccleston Square (1937-1956).

In circa 1980, the name of the Society was changed, and the organisation began work in Liverpool.

In 2002 London Catholic charities were running homes for the aged poor at Nazareth House, Hammersmith, and the convent of the Little Sisters of the Poor at Notting Hill and almshouses at Brook Green, Chelsea, and Ingatestone.