| Description | It is unclear when the Old Meeting Benevolent Society was founded, but was organised along similar lines to those of similar institutions run by the New Meeting House and Church of the Messiah (see UC 2), namely to provide practical assistance to poor families, orphans and invalids living in the neighbourhood of the church. A printed report pasted into the pages of the surviving minute book show that in 1910 alone the committee relieved 70 families with gifts of money, clothing, coal, milk and other essentials, alongside 196 food vouchers, 12 hospital, 4 nursing and 21 dispensary notes. 869 visits were made to needy families, an increase of 125 on the previous year (see UC 1/12/1/1/1). Several subsections also reported to the society, apparently founded for the benefit of young, working-class mothers, including a Mothers' Meeting, a Sewing Section and a Medical Club. |