Postgraduate Students

Danielle Hughes

Practical Faith - Presbyterian Deaconesses in the Social Services

Before the ordination of women to full ministry in the Presbyterian Church, the Order of Deaconess was an avenue for them to officially participate in organised religion. Amongst many of the possible avenues of service, the social services were a work environment in which deaconesses could serve the community and their faith. I am researching this topic at a time when women's public role was developing and social work was one of the few acceptable careers for the female sphere. My research will be from 1906 until the aftermath of welfare reform and the second world war, around 1950.

Supervisors: Professor Barbara Brookes and Dr. Vanessa Ward