Missions to Seamen: The annual report of the Missions to Seamen contains a reference to the work done at Southampton with Havre in 1884. It says the opening of a temporary institute on the Town Quay has marked a new era in the work of the missions at this port. The large number of men making use of the reading rooms daily for reading and writing, the good attendances at the evening meetings and lectures, the room frequently being uncomfortably crowded, the demand for books from the lending library, together with the improvement in the congregations at the seamen’s service at St. Julien’s Church on Sunday evenings, prove that the institute is answering its purpose, and also augurs well for its future success: The gift, by a generous donor, of a mission-boat for Southampton Water will afford greater facilities for carrying on the work amongst the yachts anchored there during the summer months. Thanks are due to those who so kindly subscribed towards the institute fund, also to the following donors of special gifts: The Dean of Winchester, for a clock; Mrs. Maloney for a clock for the coffee bar; Admirals Strange and Whyte, for telescopes; Miss Jones and friends, for games; Mrs. Batten and Miss Matcham for illustrated papers weekly; Mr. and Mrs. Pinsent for pictures: and many others for books and periodicals. Statistics for 1884: 2182 visits to ships; 260 services; 142 bags of reading; 30 Bibles and Prayer- books sold, including “Forms of Prayer for use at Sea:” enrolled 29 temperance men and 1 mission helper. During the year the work of the missions at Havre has been carried out with steady purpose, on board the large number of vessels which enter the port: The chaplain visits the station and works there as often as he can be spared from Southampton. The reader resides and works there. During the year there were nearly 20,000 attendances of seamen at the reading rooms, whilst over £200 was sent by the reader for seamen to their friends.
Transcribed in whole or part from scanned originals: Presented with or without modified text and punctuation. For absolute accuracy refer to the original newspapers. Source: The British Newspaper Archive.
Referenced
GRO0140 India: Charlotte Best Sharpe: 1819 – 1904
GRO0420 India: Henry John Pinsent: 1812 – 1894