St Francis' Boy's Home
Encyclopedia
St Francis' Boy's Home in Shefford, Bedfordshire
was the longest serving children's home
in England.
Founded in 1868, it played a vital role in providing care provision for children who could not live at home. The origins of this demand was facilitated by amendments in the Poor Laws, which allowed faith homes to be opened and for financial support to be provided from the state and local government/local parish. Soon after these changes in the Poor Laws, the Holy Roman Catholic Church opened a large number of institutions to provide care for the children of Catholic families. The home closed in 1974.
The home was able to take up to 65 children between the ages of 5 to 16 years and although it was commonly referred to as an orphanage, actually in its later history was a home for children of the poor. Many of the children housed there came from broken homes and this is referred to in the Home Office
inspection reports.
In its latter years the home was run by the Northampton Diocese of the Roman Catholic Church under a registered charity called the Northampton Diocese Child Protection and Welfare Society. In 1977 this charity was renamed the St Francis' Children's Society, a Registered Charity No. 211670 with the Charity Commission of England and Wales, which still operates adoption and fostering services and is based in Milton Keynes
in Buckinghamshire
at Collis House, 48 Newport Road, Woolstone. The St Francis' Children's Society is a company limited by guarantee
; Registration number 00392550. The St Francis' Children's Society no longer operates children's homes.
Shefford, Bedfordshire
Shefford is a small town and civil parish located in the Central Bedfordshire district of Bedfordshire, England. At the 2001 census it had a population of 4,928, although this was estimated to have grown to 5,770 by 2007.-History:...
was the longest serving children's home
Children's Home
Children's Home is a historic building at 427 Robeson Street in Fall River, Massachusetts.The Home was built in 1894 and added to the National Historic Register in 1983....
in England.
Founded in 1868, it played a vital role in providing care provision for children who could not live at home. The origins of this demand was facilitated by amendments in the Poor Laws, which allowed faith homes to be opened and for financial support to be provided from the state and local government/local parish. Soon after these changes in the Poor Laws, the Holy Roman Catholic Church opened a large number of institutions to provide care for the children of Catholic families. The home closed in 1974.
The home was able to take up to 65 children between the ages of 5 to 16 years and although it was commonly referred to as an orphanage, actually in its later history was a home for children of the poor. Many of the children housed there came from broken homes and this is referred to in the Home Office
Home Office
The Home Office is the United Kingdom government department responsible for immigration control, security, and order. As such it is responsible for the police, UK Border Agency, and the Security Service . It is also in charge of government policy on security-related issues such as drugs,...
inspection reports.
In its latter years the home was run by the Northampton Diocese of the Roman Catholic Church under a registered charity called the Northampton Diocese Child Protection and Welfare Society. In 1977 this charity was renamed the St Francis' Children's Society, a Registered Charity No. 211670 with the Charity Commission of England and Wales, which still operates adoption and fostering services and is based in Milton Keynes
Milton Keynes
Milton Keynes , sometimes abbreviated MK, is a large town in Buckinghamshire, in the south east of England, about north-west of London. It is the administrative centre of the Borough of Milton Keynes...
in Buckinghamshire
Buckinghamshire
Buckinghamshire is a ceremonial and non-metropolitan home county in South East England. The county town is Aylesbury, the largest town in the ceremonial county is Milton Keynes and largest town in the non-metropolitan county is High Wycombe....
at Collis House, 48 Newport Road, Woolstone. The St Francis' Children's Society is a company limited by guarantee
Company limited by guarantee
In British and Irish company law, a private company limited by guarantee is an alternative type of corporation used primarily for non-profit organisations that require legal personality. A guarantee company does not usually have a share capital or shareholders, but instead has members who act as...
; Registration number 00392550. The St Francis' Children's Society no longer operates children's homes.