The Community

OUR PAST
Lavinia Crosse, daughter of a Norwich Doctor, founded the Community in 1855, which grew out of her work with a House of Mercy, where girls rescued from the streets could be given a home and trained for domestic service. She felt this needed a group of women committed to this work for life. As the Community grew in numbers, work grew to include a Hospital, an Orphanage (which became a school), embroidery and work in Norwich Parishes. We were founded in a small village called Shipmeadow, but moved a few years afterwards to Ditchingham, where we have remained. Our work has been largely based in our grounds at Ditchingham, in the Hospital in the village, and in branch houses in Norwich and Ipswich, although there was a period in Canada between 1884 and 1920. The Community has never been large, and our works have always been maintained with outside help.