Collection GB 0074 A/LAC - LONDON AGED CHRISTIAN SOCIETY

Identity area

Reference code

GB 0074 A/LAC

Title

LONDON AGED CHRISTIAN SOCIETY

Date(s)

  • 1826-1990 (Creation)

Level of description

Collection

Extent and medium

1.99 linear metres

Context area

Name of creator

Biographical history

The 'London Aged Christian Society for the permanent relief of the decidedly Christian poor of both sexes, who have attained sixty years and who reside within seven miles of Saint Pauls Cathedral' was founded in 1826 at a provisional meeting held at 32 Sackville Street, at the 'Religious and Charitable Societies House' by a group of men 'in consequence of the great interest that has lately been excited at the Western part of the Metropolis on behalf of the aged Christian poor' (A/LAC/1/1).

The group consisted of William Newman, a grocer and tea-dealer of 21 Cockspur Street; William Adeney, a tailor of 16 Sackville Street (for many years the sub-treasurer); Mr Palmer and Benjamin Palmer upholsterers of 175 Piccadilly; Edward Swaine, a whip maker of 224 Piccadilly and Richard Sawyer, an engraver of 43 Dean Street.

The Earl of Rocksavage (later Marquess of Cholmondeley) was the first president and continued in office until his death in 1870. At the second meeting Henry Drummond was proposed as Treasurer and began a long association with Drummonds Bank.

Two committees were established, the main (gentlemen's) committee and a ladies committee. Members of the former were 'monthly to visit and relive the poor pensioners in their own habitations', such members were known as almoners (A/LAC/1/1), while members of the ladies committee visited and interviewed applicants, who, if approved, went on the gentlemen's rotas. The ladies were known as visitors. Subscribers were entitled to recommend pensioners. In 1892 the two committees were amalgamated.

The principle, which was enunciated at every annual general or anniversary meeting was a 'deep sense of the Scriptual obligation to do good especially to those who are of the household of faith'.

For many years the Society relied on the support of individual contributors but from 1854 to 1888 West Street Episcopal Chapel maintained an association in aid of the Society's funds and in the Society made its first public appeal. The Society welcomed the Old Age Pensions Act in 1909 but maintained its belief that there was still a need for its work. In 1885 the idea of an almshouse was first proposed and the provision and maintenance of almshouses became a large part of the Society's work.

In 1913 the Society left 32 Sackville Street for Denson House in Vauxhall and is now to be found with the Field Lane Foundation at Vine Hill.

Archival history

GB 0074 A/LAC 1826-1990 Collection 1.99 linear metres London Aged Christian Society

The 'London Aged Christian Society for the permanent relief of the decidedly Christian poor of both sexes, who have attained sixty years and who reside within seven miles of Saint Pauls Cathedral' was founded in 1826 at a provisional meeting held at 32 Sackville Street, at the 'Religious and Charitable Societies House' by a group of men 'in consequence of the great interest that has lately been excited at the Western part of the Metropolis on behalf of the aged Christian poor' (A/LAC/1/1).

The group consisted of William Newman, a grocer and tea-dealer of 21 Cockspur Street; William Adeney, a tailor of 16 Sackville Street (for many years the sub-treasurer); Mr Palmer and Benjamin Palmer upholsterers of 175 Piccadilly; Edward Swaine, a whip maker of 224 Piccadilly and Richard Sawyer, an engraver of 43 Dean Street.

The Earl of Rocksavage (later Marquess of Cholmondeley) was the first president and continued in office until his death in 1870. At the second meeting Henry Drummond was proposed as Treasurer and began a long association with Drummonds Bank.

Two committees were established, the main (gentlemen's) committee and a ladies committee. Members of the former were 'monthly to visit and relive the poor pensioners in their own habitations', such members were known as almoners (A/LAC/1/1), while members of the ladies committee visited and interviewed applicants, who, if approved, went on the gentlemen's rotas. The ladies were known as visitors. Subscribers were entitled to recommend pensioners. In 1892 the two committees were amalgamated.

The principle, which was enunciated at every annual general or anniversary meeting was a 'deep sense of the Scriptual obligation to do good especially to those who are of the household of faith'.

For many years the Society relied on the support of individual contributors but from 1854 to 1888 West Street Episcopal Chapel maintained an association in aid of the Society's funds and in the Society made its first public appeal. The Society welcomed the Old Age Pensions Act in 1909 but maintained its belief that there was still a need for its work. In 1885 the idea of an almshouse was first proposed and the provision and maintenance of almshouses became a large part of the Society's work.

In 1913 the Society left 32 Sackville Street for Denson House in Vauxhall and is now to be found with the Field Lane Foundation at Vine Hill.

Records deposited in 1979 with a further accession in 2001.

Records of the London Aged Christian Society consisting of early minutes of the Gentlemens and Ladies committes and later joint committee minutes; annual reports, financial records and pensioners cases and some historical notes and rules of the Society.

The records have been arranged as follows:
A/LAC/01 Minutes of Gentlemen's Committee and joint committees, 1826-1966, agenda books to 2000;
A/LAC/02 Minutes of the Ladies Committee 1826-1892;
A/LAC/03 Annual Reports 1827-1957;
A/LAC/04 Cash Books;
A/LAC/05 Bank Books;
A/LAC/06 Accounts;
A/LAC/07 Correspondence;
A/LAC/08 Pension Cases;
A/LAC/09 Printed Material.

These records are available for public inspection, although records containing personal information are subject to access restrictions under the UK Data Protection Act, 1998.

Copyright to these records rests with the depositor.

English

Fit

Please see online catalogues at: http://search.lma.gov.uk/opac_lma/index.htm

Compiled in compliance with General International Standard Archival Description, ISAD(G), second edition, 2000; National Council on Archives Rules for the Construction of Personal, Place and Corporate Names, 1997.

June to August 2010. Religious institutions Religious organizations Religious charities Organizations Associations Charitable organisations Charities Charities administration Health services Care Care for the elderly Information sources Documents Charity records Charity accounts Charitable trusts Poor relief Social welfare Almshouses Residential buildings Buildings Architecture London Aged Christian Society London England UK Western Europe Europe Nonprofit organizations

Immediate source of acquisition or transfer

Records deposited in 1979 with a further accession in 2001.

Content and structure area

Scope and content

Records of the London Aged Christian Society consisting of early minutes of the Gentlemens and Ladies committes and later joint committee minutes; annual reports, financial records and pensioners cases and some historical notes and rules of the Society.

Appraisal, destruction and scheduling

Accruals

System of arrangement

The records have been arranged as follows:
A/LAC/01 Minutes of Gentlemen's Committee and joint committees, 1826-1966, agenda books to 2000;
A/LAC/02 Minutes of the Ladies Committee 1826-1892;
A/LAC/03 Annual Reports 1827-1957;
A/LAC/04 Cash Books;
A/LAC/05 Bank Books;
A/LAC/06 Accounts;
A/LAC/07 Correspondence;
A/LAC/08 Pension Cases;
A/LAC/09 Printed Material.

Conditions of access and use area

Conditions governing access

These records are available for public inspection, although records containing personal information are subject to access restrictions under the UK Data Protection Act, 1998.

Conditions governing reproduction

Copyright to these records rests with the depositor.

Language of material

  • English

Script of material

  • Latin

Language and script notes

English

Physical characteristics and technical requirements

Finding aids

Please see online catalogues at: http://search.lma.gov.uk/opac_lma/index.htm

Allied materials area

Existence and location of originals

Existence and location of copies

Related units of description

Related descriptions

Notes area

Alternative identifier(s)

Access points

Place access points

Name access points

Genre access points

Description control area

Description identifier

Institution identifier

London Metropolitan Archives

Rules and/or conventions used

Compiled in compliance with General International Standard Archival Description, ISAD(G), second edition, 2000; National Council on Archives Rules for the Construction of Personal, Place and Corporate Names, 1997.

Status

Level of detail

Dates of creation revision deletion

Language(s)

  • English

Script(s)

    Sources

    Accession area