York Friends Sewing Meeting

The Friendly Society for Benevolent Objects was set up in York in 1834 to meet the social needs of women Friends. It was modelled on a similar body in Hull. Members met monthly in each others' homes to take tea, listen to readings and sew garments for charity. From 1851, the society was renamed the York Friends Sewing Meeting. By the end of the century, overseas missions in Syria, China and India, and refugees in the Balkans were supported by this charitable work, as well as the poor of York. During and after the First World War, work was undertaken for the Friends War Victims Relief Society and the Friends Ambulance Unit. It was still active in 1927.