IDENTITY STATEMENT
Reference code(s): LMA/4264
Held at: London Metropolitan Archives
Title: THE NEEDLEWORK GUILD (CAPITAL CARE AND CONCERN IN THE UNITED REFORMED CHURCH)
Date(s): 1936-1999
Level of description: Collection
Extent: 0.16 linear meters
Name of creator(s): Congregational Church of England and Wales
United Reformed Church
CONTEXT
Administrative/Biographical history:
The Needlework Guild was founded in 1913 as a branch of the London Women's League of the Congregational Church. They aimed to supply Congregational churches with new clothes that could be distributed to the needy. During the First and Second World Wars they made clothes for refugees and bombed-out families as well as bandages and other hospital supplies and sandbags.
In 1950 the name was changed to The Needlework and Handicraft Guild to reflect the increasing number of products such as toiletries made for distribution to churches for sale at bazaars. However, the 'Handicraft' addition was dropped in 1954. When the Congregational Church merged with the Presbyterian Church in 1972 the Guild membership grew as former Presbyterians joined.
In 1992 it was decided to change the name of the Guild which was considered misleading as the Guild was not strictly speaking a 'guild' and as the 'needlework' implied that they made church vestments and cloths. In 1994 the name 'Capital Care and Concern' was adopted. However, in 1999 the society was closed as it was becoming increasingly difficult to attract members.
CONTENT
Scope and content/abstract:
Records of the Needlework Guild, Congregational Church (later United Reformed Church), including minute books, 1936-1999; gift list, 1983-1999; account books, 1957-1999; expenses, 1969-1999; orders of service for annual dedication of gifts ceremonies, 1962-1998; booklet "The Story of the London Women's League of the London Congregational Union, 1909-1959" by Ann Oldfield, 1959 and typescript notes on the history of the Needlework Guild, 1913-1998, by Guild Secretary Phyllis Mitchell, 1998.
ACCESS AND USE
Language/scripts of material: English
System of arrangement:
Minutes; Accounts; Publications.
Conditions governing access:
These records are available for public inspection, although records containing personal information are subject to access restrictions under the UK Data Protection Act, 1998.
Conditions governing reproduction:
Copyright: City of London
Physical characteristics:
Fit
Finding aids:
Please see online catalogues at: http://search.lma.gov.uk/opac_lma/index.htm
ARCHIVAL INFORMATION
Appraisal, destruction and scheduling information:
Accruals:
Archival history:
Immediate source of acquisition:
Received in 2000 (B00/076).
ALLIED MATERIALS
Existence and location of originals:
Existence and location of copies:
Related material:
Publication note:
DESCRIPTION NOTES
Note:
Date(s) of descriptions: January to March 2009