Lives in Cricket No 51 - Rev ES Carter

The York Penitentiary and missionary work Obituaries record that Carter was for 25 years the Secretary of the York Peniteniary. This was a home run by a society formed in 1822 for reforming penitent ‘fallen’ girls and women. In 1844 the home was based at 19 Bishopshill not far from the Rectory of St Martin-cum-Gregory which probably explains why Carter ultimately became its secretary, and remained secretary for so many years, including much of the period when he was minister at St Michael-le-Belfrey Church. The rules were rather strict and it is rather hard to imagine the avuncular Reverend Carter being altogether comfortable with them – for example: “The women shall preserve a decent deportment, and a becoming silence, especially while at work. Reproaches for past irregularities, railing and all angry expressions, are strictly forbidden; and if repeated after admonition from the Matron shall be reported to the Committee, and punished at their discretion.” In 1883, when Carter may already have been secretary and on the committee for some years, he was appointed a trustee and in a position to join in policy decisions. By 1884 the Penitentiary could house 18 girls or women and laundry work was the main activity. Indeed an extended laundry was created in 1890. No one was charged for their residence. The Yorkshire Gazette and York Herald contained regular reports of annual meetings which were held in the Mansion House at York, with the Lord Mayor presiding. The Dean of York was President of the Penitentiary. Inmates were up to only 20 by 1894. In 1903 the Society also had a shelter at 17 Bishophill for up to eight ‘friendless women’. It all sounds rather tough going for the women concerned and a touch of sympathy may have followed when, in 1918, ten years after Carter had left, the name of the home was changed to ‘House of Mercy’. Later the home moved to Clifton, became an approved school and later a reception centre for a girls’ care home. Now the Clifton buildings are a private home and the Bishophill buildings have been long converted into modern residences. York 50