Bethany Home
Encyclopedia
Bethany Home was a residential home in Dublin for women of the Protestant faith, convicted of petty theft, prostitution, infanticide, as well as for women who were pregnant out of wedlock, and the children of these women. The home was run by evangelical members of the Church of Ireland
and catered to "fallen women" from their community. It operated in Blackhall Place, Dublin (1921-34), and in Orwell Road, Rathgar (1934-72), until its closure. The home sent many children to Northern Ireland and England.
in 1934, where it was based until it was closed in 1972. On opening the home in May 1922 the Church of Ireland Archbishop of Dublin, John Allen Fitzgerald Gregg
, Bethany was declared "a door of hope for fallen women". Following the passage of the Registration of Maternity Homes Act of 1934, Bethany House became subject to inspection from the Department of Health.
Former residents have claimed that as children they were victims of physical abuse and neglect while resident in the home, and that this accounted for the high fatality rate amongst children in the institution.
It is claimed that the home was not run by the Church of Ireland itself but was affiliated to it, and members of the church sat on the board of the home. In a letter dated 9 April 1945 from the
then Church of Ireland Archbishop of Dublin, Dr Arthur William Barton
, to Gerald Boland, then Minister for Justice, described the home as "a suitable place for Protestant girls on remand". Bethany Home was already a place recognised by the courts as a place of detention, as a result of this the home was subject to departmental inspection.
The government's Deputy Chief Medical Adviser, Winslow Sterling Berry, who inspected the home in the 1930s and 1940s, acknowledged that the issue of illegitimate children was a "delicate" one, and requested that Bethany Home cease admitting Roman Catholic babies due to complaints from the Catholic Church.
The home was seen in some quarters as an alleged institution for promoting the Protestant faith. Superintendent of the Irish Church Missions to the Roman Catholics
Rev. T.C. Hammond, was a managing committee member of the home. In the 1950s Bethany Home reportedly facilitated the adoptions of their wards by Protestant families in the United States and Australia.
The home was closed in 1972. In 1974 its assets were distributed to two other Church of Ireland run institutions 85% to the Church of Ireland, Magdalen Home (founded by Lady Arabella Denny) on Leeson St., and 15% to Miss Carr's Home, North Circular Road, Dublin. The records of the Bethany Home are held by PACT (the Protestant adoption service), along with records of other Church of Ireland social services.
, Harold's Cross, Dublin. In 2010, a memorial was erected in the cemetery to remember them, in attendance was some former residents and relatives of residents along with public figures such as independent Senator David Norris and Labour Equality spokeswoman, Kathleen Lynch.
and to the Irish government and the Commission to Inquire into Child Abuse
, for inclusion in the state redress scheme, The home is subject to ongoing calls to be added to the State redress scheme for victims of child sexual abuse. similar to those who were victims of abuse in institutions run by Catholic organisations. In May 2011 the survivors group met with the Church of Ireland Archbishop of Dublin, Rev Dr Michael Jackson, as part of their campaign.
Since the announcement of a inquiry, headed by Senator Martin McAleese
, into the State's role in the Magdalene Laundries, the Minister of Education, Ruairi Quinn
, has refused to include Bethany Home in the inquiry.
Justice for Magdalenes (JFM) supports the call for the inclusion of the Bethany Home in Inquiry into the Magdalane Asylums.
Church of Ireland
The Church of Ireland is an autonomous province of the Anglican Communion. The church operates in all parts of Ireland and is the second largest religious body on the island after the Roman Catholic Church...
and catered to "fallen women" from their community. It operated in Blackhall Place, Dublin (1921-34), and in Orwell Road, Rathgar (1934-72), until its closure. The home sent many children to Northern Ireland and England.
History
It was founded in Blackhall Place in Dublin in 1921, and moved to Orwell Road, RathgarRathgar
Rathgar is a suburb of Dublin, Ireland, lying about 3 kilometres south of the city centre.-Amenities:Rathgar is largely a quiet suburb with good amenities, including primary and secondary schools, nursing homes, child-care and sports facilities, and good public transport to the city centre...
in 1934, where it was based until it was closed in 1972. On opening the home in May 1922 the Church of Ireland Archbishop of Dublin, John Allen Fitzgerald Gregg
John Allen Fitzgerald Gregg
John Allen Fitzgerald Gregg CH DD was a Church of Ireland clergyman, from 1915 Bishop of Ossory, in 1920 translated to become Archbishop of Dublin, and finally from 1939 until 1959 Archbishop of Armagh. He was also a theologian and historian.-Life:...
, Bethany was declared "a door of hope for fallen women". Following the passage of the Registration of Maternity Homes Act of 1934, Bethany House became subject to inspection from the Department of Health.
Former residents have claimed that as children they were victims of physical abuse and neglect while resident in the home, and that this accounted for the high fatality rate amongst children in the institution.
It is claimed that the home was not run by the Church of Ireland itself but was affiliated to it, and members of the church sat on the board of the home. In a letter dated 9 April 1945 from the
then Church of Ireland Archbishop of Dublin, Dr Arthur William Barton
Arthur William Barton
Arthur William Barton DD was a Church of Ireland clergyman, from 1939 Archbishop of Dublin.-Early life:Born in 1881, the son of the Rev...
, to Gerald Boland, then Minister for Justice, described the home as "a suitable place for Protestant girls on remand". Bethany Home was already a place recognised by the courts as a place of detention, as a result of this the home was subject to departmental inspection.
The government's Deputy Chief Medical Adviser, Winslow Sterling Berry, who inspected the home in the 1930s and 1940s, acknowledged that the issue of illegitimate children was a "delicate" one, and requested that Bethany Home cease admitting Roman Catholic babies due to complaints from the Catholic Church.
The home was seen in some quarters as an alleged institution for promoting the Protestant faith. Superintendent of the Irish Church Missions to the Roman Catholics
Irish Church Missions
The Irish Church Mission to the Roman Catholics is a conservative and semi-autonomous Anglican mission. It was founded in 1849 chiefly by English Anglicans with the backing and support of the Church of Ireland clergy and Bishops.-History:...
Rev. T.C. Hammond, was a managing committee member of the home. In the 1950s Bethany Home reportedly facilitated the adoptions of their wards by Protestant families in the United States and Australia.
The home was closed in 1972. In 1974 its assets were distributed to two other Church of Ireland run institutions 85% to the Church of Ireland, Magdalen Home (founded by Lady Arabella Denny) on Leeson St., and 15% to Miss Carr's Home, North Circular Road, Dublin. The records of the Bethany Home are held by PACT (the Protestant adoption service), along with records of other Church of Ireland social services.
Mount Jerome Graves
More than 220 children died in Bethany Home and were buried in unmarked graves in Mount Jerome CemeteryMount Jerome Cemetery
Mount Jerome Cemetery is situated in Harold's Cross on the south side of Dublin, Ireland. Since its foundation in 1836, it has witnessed over 300,000 burials...
, Harold's Cross, Dublin. In 2010, a memorial was erected in the cemetery to remember them, in attendance was some former residents and relatives of residents along with public figures such as independent Senator David Norris and Labour Equality spokeswoman, Kathleen Lynch.
Bethany Survivors Group
The Bethany Home Survivors Group campaign on behalf of survivors of the home, the children who were detained there and who suffered abuse at the home. The group's campaigns to the Church of IrelandChurch of Ireland
The Church of Ireland is an autonomous province of the Anglican Communion. The church operates in all parts of Ireland and is the second largest religious body on the island after the Roman Catholic Church...
and to the Irish government and the Commission to Inquire into Child Abuse
Commission to Inquire into Child Abuse
The Commission to Inquire into Child Abuse is one of a range of measures introduced by the Irish Government to investigate the extent and effects of abuse on children from 1936 onwards. It is commonly known in Ireland as the Ryan Commission , after its chair, Justice Seán Ryan...
, for inclusion in the state redress scheme, The home is subject to ongoing calls to be added to the State redress scheme for victims of child sexual abuse. similar to those who were victims of abuse in institutions run by Catholic organisations. In May 2011 the survivors group met with the Church of Ireland Archbishop of Dublin, Rev Dr Michael Jackson, as part of their campaign.
Since the announcement of a inquiry, headed by Senator Martin McAleese
Martin McAleese
Martin McAleese is a member of Seanad Éireann and the husband of the former President of Ireland, Mary McAleese.-Early life and education:He played with the Antrim Minors and was captain of the team in 1969. He trained and worked as an accountant and then qualified as a dentist.He practiced as a...
, into the State's role in the Magdalene Laundries, the Minister of Education, Ruairi Quinn
Ruairi Quinn
Ruairi Quinn is an Irish Labour Party politician who has been Minister for Education and Skills since March 2011. He is currently a Teachta Dála for the Dublin South East constituency. He was Minister for Finance from 1994 to 1997, and leader of the Labour Party from 1997 to 2002.-Early...
, has refused to include Bethany Home in the inquiry.
Justice for Magdalenes (JFM) supports the call for the inclusion of the Bethany Home in Inquiry into the Magdalane Asylums.
Bethany born notables
- Derek Leinster, writer (Hannah's Shame, 2005; Destiny Unknown, 2008) and activist.
- Patrick Anderson-McQuoid, artist who worked with the Irish Ballet Company in Cork City before founding and serving as Artistic Director of the Triskel Arts in that city; currently resident in County LeitrimCounty LeitrimCounty Leitrim is a county in Ireland. It is located in the West Region and is also part of the province of Connacht. It is named after the village of Leitrim. Leitrim County Council is the local authority for the county...
. - Tom McClean, former British paratrooper, SAS Parachute Regiment, who planted the Union Jack on Rockall IslandRockallRockall is an extremely small, uninhabited, remote rocky islet in the North Atlantic Ocean. It gives its name to one of the sea areas named in the shipping forecast provided by the British Meteorological Office....
in 1985. He had been sent to an English orphanage at the age of 3. He authored Rough Passage (1983).