Ulster Magdalene Asylum
Encyclopedia
'Ulster Magdalene Asylum' was founded in 1839 on Donegall Pass, Belfast, by the Church of Ireland
, like other Magdalene Asylum it catered for fallen women. It was founded as part of the St Mary Magdalene Parish and was to provide an asylum for penitent females with chapel attached and named the Ulster Magdalene Asylum and Episcopal Chapel. It was opened on December 1, 1839. The home operated up until the 1960s.
Set up to rehabilitate the women, generally women who were pregnant out of wedlock, women involved in prostitution and others convicted of petty crimes. It was described, For the reception of erring and repentant females. The residents in keeping with similar institutions were worked in a laundry, the Asylum was sometimes termed the steam laundry'.
The english architect (and future MP and Mayor of Belfast) Sir Charles Lanyon
renowned for many buildings in Ireland, particularly in Belfast, designed a new gothic styled school and chapel for the Ulster Magdalene Asylum in 1851.
The Ulster Magdalene Asylum in Belfast maintained a close relationship with other protestant evangelical organisations set up in the victorian era such as the Belfast Midnight Mission (which was a rescue for unfortunate women and their offspring) as well as the Belfast Female Mission, a School was affiliated to the Asylum run by the Church Education Society these organisations shared members and trustees.
While the Ulster Magdalene Asylum was established by the Church of Ireland, similar institutions in Belfast were established for other denominations such as the Catholic refuge was set up at the Good Shepherd Convent, Ballynafeigh (established in 1867), or the earlier Ulster Female Penitentiary initially non-denominational but became associated with the Presbyterian Church.
The Ulster Magdalene Asylum was closed as a steam laundry in 1916 and demolished in 1918, during its existence from 1849-1916 supplied shelter, maintenance, employment, instruction and encouragement to upwards of 3,000 women. The Church provide services to women after the closure, as well as other services provided by the Belfast Mission.
Church of Ireland
The Church of Ireland is an autonomous province of the Anglican Communion. The church operates in all parts of Ireland and is the second largest religious body on the island after the Roman Catholic Church...
, like other Magdalene Asylum it catered for fallen women. It was founded as part of the St Mary Magdalene Parish and was to provide an asylum for penitent females with chapel attached and named the Ulster Magdalene Asylum and Episcopal Chapel. It was opened on December 1, 1839. The home operated up until the 1960s.
Set up to rehabilitate the women, generally women who were pregnant out of wedlock, women involved in prostitution and others convicted of petty crimes. It was described, For the reception of erring and repentant females. The residents in keeping with similar institutions were worked in a laundry, the Asylum was sometimes termed the steam laundry'.
The english architect (and future MP and Mayor of Belfast) Sir Charles Lanyon
Charles Lanyon
Sir Charles Lanyon DL, JP was an English architect of the 19th century. His work is most closely associated with Belfast, Northern Ireland.-Biography:Lanyon was born in Eastbourne, Sussex in 1813...
renowned for many buildings in Ireland, particularly in Belfast, designed a new gothic styled school and chapel for the Ulster Magdalene Asylum in 1851.
The Ulster Magdalene Asylum in Belfast maintained a close relationship with other protestant evangelical organisations set up in the victorian era such as the Belfast Midnight Mission (which was a rescue for unfortunate women and their offspring) as well as the Belfast Female Mission, a School was affiliated to the Asylum run by the Church Education Society these organisations shared members and trustees.
While the Ulster Magdalene Asylum was established by the Church of Ireland, similar institutions in Belfast were established for other denominations such as the Catholic refuge was set up at the Good Shepherd Convent, Ballynafeigh (established in 1867), or the earlier Ulster Female Penitentiary initially non-denominational but became associated with the Presbyterian Church.
The Ulster Magdalene Asylum was closed as a steam laundry in 1916 and demolished in 1918, during its existence from 1849-1916 supplied shelter, maintenance, employment, instruction and encouragement to upwards of 3,000 women. The Church provide services to women after the closure, as well as other services provided by the Belfast Mission.