The report of the committee of visitors, superintendent and chaplain of the Cheshire Lunatic Asylum : made to the court of general quarter sessions of the peace, holden at Nether Knutsford, in and for the county of Chester, on Monday, April 9th, 1866.

Cheshire County Lunatic Asylum

Date:: 1866

Credit: The report of the committee of visitors, superintendent and chaplain of the Cheshire Lunatic Asylum : made to the court of general quarter sessions of the peace, holden at Nether Knutsford, in and for the county of Chester, on Monday, April 9th, 1866. Source: Wellcome Collection.

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$REPORT OF THE CHAPLAIN FOR 1865. County Asylum, ]\Iy Lords and Ctentlemen, March 21st, 1866. I have the honour to lay before you a Report of my duties in con¬ nection with the Asylum, for the past year. There necessaril} can be very little variation in my Annual Report, for the duties of the Chaplain are, for the most part, of a routine and uniform character. The Services of the Church have been regularly conducted throughout the year. Two full Services every Sunday, and Daily Prajmrs each morning of the week. The Holy Sacrament has been administered Quarterly, and I hope with good effect. The number of our communicants have increased in a small ratio—of necessity there never can be many, as none are admitted who I have reason to suppose, are not in a fit state of mind to receive it reverently. The general conduct of the patients during Divine Service has, as usual, been extremely good,!^any disturbance being a circumstance of rare occurrence. We have a very good Choir, composed of attendants and a few patients, many of the patients join heartily in the chanting and singing, and I believe that it has a very beneficial effect upon them, and tends to lead their minds to the real sourse of comfort under their trials. The Church is completely filled every Sunday, the congregation numbering on an average 300 persons. The School on both sides of the House continues to progress very satisfactorily. In the Men’s School there is an average attendance of 25. There are on the books about 30, but of course they all cannot attend on each occasion. The new Master is very efficient in his duties. In the Women’s School the average attendance is 35, with about 40 oh the books. The Bible is read and writing taught, and in some instances arithmetic alscK The progress in both Schools being very considerable, and doing much credit, both to the Alaster and also to the Nurses who, under my superintendence, conduct the Women's School. Books and periodicals have, as usual, been distributed regularly through the House. I need hardly add, that a large portion of each day has been spent by me in the xAsylum, and it gives me great pleasure to bear testimony to the good feeling that manifests itself between tlie Patients and Attendants generally, a presumptive proof of the kindness and attention with which the Patients are treated. The Charitable Fund for assisting needy cases has been very useful, and I only hope that by the kind voluntary contributions of those interested in the welfare of these real objects of sympatliy, we shall always be able to do a little towards restoring them to comfort and happiness. y liRve the honor to remain. Respectfully yours, R. CONGREVE, Chaplain.$