Community of the Holy Name (1888 - )

Church of England Mission House, Spring Street, 1950
Details

From: 1888
Categories: Anglican, Care Provider and Religious Order
Website: http://www.chn.org.au/

The Community of the Holy Name is a religious order, founded by Sister Esther in 1888. Sister Esther led the work in Melbourne of the Mission to the Streets and Lanes. Many of the women who worked in institutions run by the Mission to the Streets and Lanes were Sisters of the Community of the Holy Name.

The Sisters were based at Mission House, which was located in an old bakery in Little Lonsdale Street. In 1918, Mission House moved to new premises in Spring Street, Melbourne.

The Sisters provided a range of services for 'slum dwellers' in Melbourne, including classes, soup kitchens and mothers' clubs.

The House of Mercy home for 'wayward girls' in Cheltenham later became the Retreat House for the Community of the Holy Name.

Related Legislation

The Neglected Children's Act 1887 (1888 - 1890)
The Community of the Holy Name at Cheltenham was established as a direct result of the Act.

Related Organisations

Church of England Homes for Children (1894 - c. 1968)
Darling Babies' Home (1927 - 1967)
The Community of the Holy Name founded the Darling Babies' Home.
The Homes for Children and Family Counselling Service (1968 - c. 1975)
The Homes had long been staffed by members of the Community of the Holy Name, but from the late 1960s, more and more staff were 'seculars'.
House of Mercy (c. 1892 - 1946)
In 1946, the House of Mercy became known as the Retreat House of the Community of the Holy Name.
Mission to the Streets and Lanes (1886 - 1997)
Many of the women who worked in the Mission to the Streets and Lanes' Homes for children and women were members of the Community of the Holy Name.

Date: 1888 -

Publications

Online Resources

Sixty years of friendship, The Argus, 11 October 1949, 2 pp, http://nla.gov.au/nla.news-article22784626. Details
Henningham, Nikki, 'Sister Esther', in Australian Women's Register, National Foundation for Australian Women, 2009, http://www.womenaustralia.info/biogs/AWE4158b.htm. Details
Stewart, John W., 'Sister Esther: an Anglican Saint', in Kingston Historical Website, City of Kingston, http://localhistory.kingston.vic.gov.au/htm/article/190.htm. Details

Photos

Title: Church of England Mission House, Spring Street
Type: Image
Date: 1950

Details

Title: Spring Street - west side, north of nos. 247-255
Type: Image
Date: 1950

Details

Title: Little Lonsdale Street - north side, no. 30, Meyer Manufacturing Co.
Type: Image
Date: 1950

Details

Prepared by: Cate O'Neill

Created: 2 October 2009, Last modified: 16 March 2015

Community of the Holy Name (1888 - )