A Dorcas society is a local group of people, usually based in a church, with a mission of providing clothing to the poor. [1] Dorcas societies are named after Dorcas (also called Tabitha), a person described in the Acts of the Apostles ( 9:36). [2] [3]
Dorcas societies were at their height in the 1800s, [4] but there are still Dorcas societies around the world, providing clothing and other physical needs. [2] [3]
One Dorcas society was founded in Douglas, Isle of Man, in December 1834 as part of the community's thanksgiving for being spared from an outbreak of cholera. [1] [5] Other Dorcas societies were established by missionaries in the Americas in the early 1800s. [6] [7] Beatrice Clugston founded the Glasgow Royal Dorcas Society in 1864. [8] [9] [10] One English Dorcas society in Sydenham, London, met during five Tuesdays in Lent, producing 166 garments in one year. [4]
The Dorcas Society at St Paul's Chapel of Trinity Church Parish, New York City, was founded in 1850; another Trinity Chapel, St John's, also had a Dorcas Society; the two provided clothing to school children in the parish. [11] The Dorcas Society of Maine was founded in 1897 by Kate Douglas Wiggin as the Dorcas Society of Hollis & Buxton, Maine. [12] The Dorcas Society of Maine is still active and provides academic scholarships and charitable contributions within its community.
A Dorcas society is a local group of people, usually based in a church, with a mission of providing clothing to the poor. [1] Dorcas societies are named after Dorcas (also called Tabitha), a person described in the Acts of the Apostles ( 9:36). [2] [3]
Dorcas societies were at their height in the 1800s, [4] but there are still Dorcas societies around the world, providing clothing and other physical needs. [2] [3]
One Dorcas society was founded in Douglas, Isle of Man, in December 1834 as part of the community's thanksgiving for being spared from an outbreak of cholera. [1] [5] Other Dorcas societies were established by missionaries in the Americas in the early 1800s. [6] [7] Beatrice Clugston founded the Glasgow Royal Dorcas Society in 1864. [8] [9] [10] One English Dorcas society in Sydenham, London, met during five Tuesdays in Lent, producing 166 garments in one year. [4]
The Dorcas Society at St Paul's Chapel of Trinity Church Parish, New York City, was founded in 1850; another Trinity Chapel, St John's, also had a Dorcas Society; the two provided clothing to school children in the parish. [11] The Dorcas Society of Maine was founded in 1897 by Kate Douglas Wiggin as the Dorcas Society of Hollis & Buxton, Maine. [12] The Dorcas Society of Maine is still active and provides academic scholarships and charitable contributions within its community.