Manchester City Mission
19 cent.-20 cent.
Archives
Total copies: 1
1. Minutes, 1841-1994
2. Annual Reports, 1886-1985
3. Registers of Missionaries, 1857-1904
4. Account Books, 1933-1984
5. Photographs and Plans, 19th-20th cent.
6. Printed Material
7. Papers of Robert Lees, 19th cent.-20th cent.
8. Films [Sent to North West Film Archive]
9. Bible Reading Contest Shield, c.1960s-1980s
Related Material:Annual reports, 1837-1984 [incomplete] are also held in the Local Studies Library (ref: 266 M20).
Title:
Manchester City Mission
Date of work:
19 cent.-20 cent.
Reference number:
GB127.M708
Level of description:
Fonds
Includes:
Custodial history:
Isaac Crewdson and a small group of local businessmen founded the Manchester City Mission in April 1837. They began their evangelical ministries in particular to the poor and immoral inhabitants of inner city Manchester and Salford. Providing door to door ministering, Ragged schools, church services and the introduction of the famous ''penny suppers'' in mission halls which eventually sprung up throughout the city.
During the late 19th century, the missionaries extended their preaching to dens of vice such as the many public houses and brothels of Manchester in an attempt to bring morality and religion to all who would listen. Other activities included prison visits, street work and the distribution of religious literature in an attempt to attract new members. Young people were trained to continue the work of the mission and ministers and deaconesses were often provided with living accommodation and a weekly wage.
During the early part of the 20th century over a dozen mission halls were in operation, with activities developing in a modern structure to include boys and girl's brigades, Christmas Feasts for the less fortunate and elderly. These were on such a grand scale the events took place at the Town Hall, with smaller gatherings at halls located in the outer districts of the city. Gifts of food, hospital visits, weekly services and the continuation of house to house visitation continued to be the foundation of evangelism within the Mission.
In 1924 Robert Lee became the tenth Secretary of the Manchester City Mission and held the post, which included that of General Superintendent, for an unprecedented 27 years. His many literary works including, ''A cry of two cities'', ''Tales of two cities'' and in particular the '' The Outlined Bible'', amongst numerous articles published in the UK and America, all have become notable examples of evangelical literature.
The Mission continued during the war years, and when the main city centre offices were destroyed, the Fernley House site at St Ann's Churchyard was opened with much ceremony and the mission was administered from this location for many years.
Today based at The Windsor Church and Youth Centre in Salford the Manchester City Mission exists with the support of the Heaton Moor Evangelical Church, Cheshire.
Its activities are still based on evangelical outreach projects, religious and spiritual services and guidance, community activities, visitations and the training of young people in the practical skills of evangelism.
For more information on the history of the Manchester City Mission see:
John Matthias Weyland, 'These fifty years' (London, 1884), our ref: M708/6/3/3
'A brief illustrated record of missionary work among the masses of Manchester and Salford (1905), our ref: M708/6/3/7
Robert Lee 'Ten fruitful decades or a century of work in Manchester, salford and district.'(London, 1937), our ref: M708/6/3/13
Robert Lee 'A cry of two cities' (London, 1927), our ref: M708/6/3/9
Robert Lee 'Tales from two cities' (London, 1927), our ref: M708/6/3/10
Robert lee 'Mission miniatures'(London, 1936), our ref: M708/6/3/117
Access restrictions:
UnrestrictedThis material is stored off site and we require 2 weeks' notice in order to retrieve it.
Use restrictions:
Unrestricted
Record types:
Manchester Archives and Local Studies
Language:
English
Record number:
7198472