The Society of Patrons of the Anniversary of the Charity Schools [also known as Patrons...

Surviving archives of the The Society of Patrons of the Anniversary of the Charity Schools.

There is a note in SP/2/1/1 that the Society of Patrons was actually founded on 19th March 1698/9 but other sources give establishment as 1706; the earliest surviving minutes date from 1706. They were known as the Trustees for the Charity Schools in and about the Cities of London and Westminster, and weekly bills of mortality. It seemed to be an 'offshoot from the Society for Promoting Christian Knowledge, and had for its object to organise and provide funds for an annual assemblage of Charity school children at some church in the metropolis.' It was reformed in June 1782 as the Patrons of the Anniversary of the Charity Schools and at this time it was agreed that there were to be two half-yearly meetings of the Patrons each year on the first Tuesday in April and October to conduct the Society's business. The affairs of the Society were to be managed by a Committee, which was to consist of the Treasurers, past and current stewards and 20 patrons elected from the current list who have already served as stewards. Nine of these 20 patrons should be from London to the west of Gray's-Inn-Lane and Chancery Lane; nine should be from London east of Gray's Inn and Chancery Lane; the final two should be from south of the river. By 1877 the annual church service for charity school children was discontinued, however the Society's funds continued to accummulate until 1896 when the Society ceased to exist and in accordance with an Order of the High Court of Chancery a scheme was drawn up dated 8 August 1896, whereby certain funds held by the surviving trustees of the Patrons of Charity Schools in the Metropolis were vested in the Official Trustee. Under the provisions of this Scheme the annual income of the charity was transferred to the National Society for the benefit of poor schools in the city of London.*