BLACKFRIARS SETTLEMENT
The Womens University Settlement was established in 1887 by women from Girton, Newnham, Sommerville and Royal Holloway Colleges to relieve poverty in North Southwark by education and self-help.
Blackfriars Settlement, as it became in 1961, continued to provide a range of services for the community, including clubs for young, old and blind; advice and information on welfare rights, housing and employment issues; literacy and numeracy classes for adults; a large range of activities for young people; support for community groups; a community photography project; housing for local homeless young people; and a work centre for mentally ill and physically handicapped people.
The Settlement window symbolises its roots in the community as depicted by the main old building in Nelson Square and the concern for people: around the door that, if not literally, attempts always to be open to the needs of local people. The Church affirms and Christ Church supports these activities.
The window is dedicated to all the community served by the Settlement and all those, past, present and future who have served the community through the Settlement.
In establishing the window, paid for entirely by individual subscription, particular honour was paid to three outstanding women who devoted large parts of their lives to this community and who were widely loved and respected. They are Mary Pearson, Aida Tennant and Norah Hindley.
