Anglican Deaconess Ministries Ltd

Anglican Deaconess Ministries Ltd is the modern name of the Church of England Deaconess Institution, a women’s religious order that ran children’s homes in Sydney. Anglican Deaconess Ministries Ltd holds records relating to the Deaconess Children’s Home and Domestic Training School, in Balmain, Ashfield and Annandale; Lisgar Training Service for Domestic Servants; Lisgar Children’s Home, in Harrison Street Marrickville and Agincourt in Strathfield; Pallister House at Strathfield and Greenwich and Pallister Young People’s Unit and Special School, and Lisgar Hostel at Arncliffe. The Deaconesses run Mary Andrews College (Deaconess House) at the University of Sydney and aged care facilities.

The Deaconesses operated schools at Balmain, Lewisham, Bega and Echuca (1901-1911) and ran a depot for recycled clothing. They also established the first Anglican Christian hospitals, which were known as the Homes of Peace/Hope Healthcare (1907-2008). Starting with a hospice called ‘Eversleigh’, the Deaconesses took over Neringah and Greenwich Hospitals in the 1950s and 1960s and added Graythwaite Nursing Home in 1980. In 1994 these Homes of Peace were incorporated and renamed Hope Healthcare, adding Braeside Hospital and the Northern Beaches Palliative Care Service. They were acquired by Hammond Care in June 2008.

The Deaconesses operated Hilsyde Lodge (1978-2003) at Camden, a retreat for Christian women workers. It continues to train young women in Christian ministry through Mary Andrews College (formerly known as Deaconess House) at St Andrews House and at Moore Theological College and operates The Next Phase Ministries Committee, which trains and ministers to seniors and the aged.