The Railway Mission - founded 14th November 1881

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From the Science Museum Group

The Railway Mission was founded on November the 14th 1881 at the Garden House Conference Hall, Mildmay Park, London when it merged with the Railway Boys Mission. Until the foundation of the Railway Men’s Christian Association in 1884 the Railway Mission did not have a personal membership, membership was organised around local secretaries responsible for providing a location for meetings, usually in the form of a mission hall or mission room, and often on land or in premises on loan from railway companies.

By 1890 there were 6,000 members and approximately 250 local missions around the United Kingdom and the majority of railway communities had a Railway Mission Hall. ...

The Railway Mission currently has 20 chaplains working as part of the National Rail Chaplaincy Service. Chaplains cover England, Scotland and Wales, providing independent confidential help and support to railway workers regardless of their faith. The Railway Mission is a registered charity reliant upon funding from the railway industry and private donations. It is overseen by the General Committee made up by a voluntary group of directors, with an Executive Director responsible for co-ordinating the work of chaplains and maintaining links with leaders of the railway industry. Its head office is at Rugby Railway Station Warwickshire.