Extracts from Conference Report 1902

The year has been one of considerable difficulty. The Training House in London having been sold, temporary arrangements were made for the students, and the difficulties of carrying on the work of training have been exceptional. The students have worked diligently and with a good measure of success, and give promise of great usefulness in their afterwork. The Leicester Branch has been undisturbed in its good work.

A grant was allotted from the Century Fund for the Wesley Deaconess Institute, to be paid out of the allocation for Home Missions. By a remarkable series of events, a large and commodious building, originally erected for a school, was purchasable at a price very far below its original cost. By the liberality of two gentlemen the purchase was made possible. The Home Mission Committee warmly approved the purchase, and agreed to devote to it any Grant received from the Century Fund.

The building will provide Central Offices for the Institute, rooms for the Warden, accommodation for twenty-seven Students in Training, residence for the Deaconess Evangelists and other Deaconesses requiring rest, and accommodation for large gatherings of Christian workers which are likely to be stimulating and suggestive to the students.

During the year sixty Deaconesses and eight second year Probationers have been employed in forty-two Circuits and seven Missions; also two in the Transvaal, one in New Zealand and two in Ceylon. Sixteen students have been in residence during the year.

The Rev. Dr Stephenson is re-appointed Warden of the Institute.

In 1900 Stephenson resigned from NCH in order to return to circuit ministry, and became superintendent of the Ilkley circuit. He continued his connection with the sisters and deaconesses, however. Conference accepted his proposal that what had become the Wesley Deaconess Order be fully acknowledged and it appointed him as the Warden of the Order. In 1902 he was able to purchase the Deaconess Institute College at Ilkley with the help of friends and a grant of £3,000 from the Methodist Church 20^th Century Fund (in 1903) Stephenson appealed for a thousand ladies to pledge one guinea a year to help meet expenses. They became Associate members, a link still maintained with Friends of the Order. Ilkley

College opened on 30^th September with seventeen students while building work was completed around them. Opening of the college was a visible sign that something experimental was becoming adopted and owned more by Conference. It was not until seven difficult years later, however, that the Church finally took on financial responsibility for the Order.

With thanks to Margaret Matta

Edgbaston