Our history

Father Daniel Gilbert and The Sisters of Mercy

For the last 165 years, Providence Row has worked alongside people experiencing homelessness in East London, shaped by a simple but enduring belief: that everyone deserves safety, dignity, and hope.

Founded in 1860 by Monsignor Daniel Gilbert and the Sisters of Mercy, Providence Row emerged in the heart of the East End at a time of extreme poverty. In cold alleyways and overcrowded tenements, the Sisters offered food, shelter, care, and—crucially—human dignity. Their work was rooted not only in meeting practical needs, but in recognising the worth of every individual they encountered.

Central to this early history was a Sister who entered the Crispin Street Convent in 1862 and went on to serve as Mother Superior from 1871 for thirty-nine years. Working closely with Monsignor Gilbert, she played a pivotal role in the daily running of the Providence Row Night Refuge. Under her quiet and steadfast leadership, the refuge became a place of consistency and compassion, never turning people away, even through periods of hardship, social upheaval, and war.

Across generations, the Sisters of Mercy continued this work with humility and resilience—making beds, preparing meals, tending wounds, offering prayer, and listening. Their approach was defined by mercy without judgement and service without condition.

That legacy continues today at the Dellow Centre on Wentworth Street. Staff and volunteers carry forward the same values through practical support, shared meals, and human connection. As volunteers describe it, the work is about showing up, building relationships, and offering kindness through everyday actions. For those who use Providence Row’s services, this support has been life-changing—helping people move toward stability, purpose, and renewed hope.

Providence Row’s story over the last 165 years is not one of milestones alone, but of constancy: standing alongside those most excluded, and responding to need with compassion, faith, and action.