Open air church service at a workhouse
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Open air church service at a workhouse
An open air church service for workhouse inmates, location unknown. Male and female inmates in workhouse uniform sit on chairs while a service is conducted by two men and a woman in formal dress on an elevated platform
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Media ID 4464365
© Mary Evans Picture Library 2015 - https://copyrighthub.org/s0/hub1/creation/maryevans/MaryEvansPictureID/10415961
Apron Bonnet Chairs Elevated Formal Inmates L Aw Legislation Pauper Paupers Platform Poor Poverty Shawl Workhouse Workhouses
EDITORS COMMENTS
This evocative photograph captures the somber atmosphere of an open air church service at a workhouse in the early 1900s. The image shows a group of male and female inmates, dressed in uniforms signifying their pauper status, seated on simple wooden chairs. The scene takes place outdoors, with a makeshift platform elevated above the congregation, upon which two men and a woman in formal attire conduct the service. The women wear aprons, shawls, and bonnets, while the men don suits and hats. Workhouses, institutions established under 19th-century legislation for the relief of poverty, were notorious for their harsh living conditions and demeaning treatment of inmates. The open air church services were a rare moment of respite and spiritual solace for the workhouse population. The photograph, reminiscent of both the Victorian and Edwardian eras, transports us back in time to an urban setting where poverty and hardship were a daily reality for many. The long, somber dresses, the men's formal attire, and the religious fervor on display all serve to underscore the historical significance of this poignant scene. The image is a poignant reminder of the religious and communal aspects of life in workhouses, and the importance of faith and community during times of hardship. The open air setting, with its natural light and fresh air, adds a sense of hope and renewal to the otherwise bleak surroundings.
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