Author: WANSTEAD INFANT ORPHAN ASYLUM
Title: Hymn Sung on Laying the First Stone of the New Asylum, at Wanstead, and at the Anniversary Dinner at Christ's Hospital, by the Children of the Infant Orphan Asylum.
Description: R. Clay, printer, July 27, 1841. Broadsheet with printed music, 320 x 200 mm. One of several institutions founded by Rev. Sir Andrew Reed, a Congregationalist minister and philanthropist who was particularly adept at raising funds from Royalty and wealthy benefactors. This one was established particularly for younger orphans who were often not taken elsewhere. Reed parted company from the charity before the building was even completed, in a dispute over the religious teaching that was to take place in the new institution. He had always believed that the philanthropy should be non-denominational but the governors of the Infant Orphan Asylum had decided that Church of England catechisms were to used there, regardless of the religious persuasion of each child or its family. A note elsewhere states that the song sung by the orphans praised Prince Albert, who laid the foundation stone. Perhaps two songs were composed for the occasion> or the words changed when the Prince accepted the invitation to attend. I can find no other record of either song.

Keywords: Ephemera


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