Stephen Orchard: 'Altruism and imagination are critical if charity is to flourish'

From a lecture by the Principal of Westminster College, Cambridge, given at Gresham College in the City of London

Consider how many of society's needs are now addressed from general taxation and the professional disciplines involved. Whatever the shortcomings of earlier philanthropy, the sheer scope and ambition of the services provided in early 19th-century London must attract our admiration.

Consider how many of society's needs are now addressed from general taxation and the professional disciplines involved. Whatever the shortcomings of earlier philanthropy, the sheer scope and ambition of the services provided in early 19th-century London must attract our admiration.

James Sherman's Surrey Chapel offered a range of philanthropic activities including: the Benevolent Society for the Relief of the Sick Poor; the Auxiliary to the London Missionary Society; 10 Sunday schools and two ragged schools, in which 3,590 children were taught by 380 teachers; the Dorcas Society, for assisting poor mothers during their confinements; the Bible Association, for distributing scriptures; the Surrey Chapel Almshouses for 23 poor women; the School of Industry for girls; the Female Clothing Society; the Christian Instruction Association; the Maternal Association; the Young Men's Association; the Auxiliary to the London City Mission; the Christian Mutual Provident Society; the mission hall in the Waterloo Road; and a class for educating Jewish children.

Even where these needs are today addressed by voluntary organisations, the funding is largely by public grants rather than private benefaction. Were the Christian merchants of the City of London more imaginative and generous in the early 19th century? Possibly not, but they did explore the limits of voluntarism before adopting that panacea of the 20th century, "the Government should do something about it."

Whatever means we adopt to counter social evils, they have to mobilise human imagination and commitment to be effective. A spirit of altruism is critical. Such a spirit is not confined to religious people, indeed, some religious people seem conspicuously lacking in it, but there is a strong correlation. For charitable enterprises to flourish such altruism is essential. The evidence is there to show that strong streak of altruism in the City in the 1830s and 40s, over and above the activities of the long-standing City charities. It was both generous and imaginative in response to new needs, and we should celebrate it.