Lived: 1780-1845
Elizabeth Fry is best known for her work in reforming prison conditions during the early part of the 19th Century. Shocked by the conditions, particularly of the women prisoners, while visiting Newgate prison she worked to change this.
During this time she established a school for the children, who lived with their mothers at the prison and established a network of groups to support women prisoners around the country. She ensured that reading the Bible was at the heart of the work her groups did with prisoners.
The English word ‘charity' comes from the Bible. It is a translation of the Latin word caritas (love), which was used in the Latin versions of the Bible
Important verses on charity (click to read)
