*2010* ~ Year of the British Home Child in Canada

Father George Vincent Hudson founded Father Hudson's Society.

From a lowly beginning, this man sowed the seeds of a Great Midland's Charity, which still flourishes today. Father Hudson is remembered for his vision and humanity and as a man who gave his life to the care of many thousands of children in desperate need.

Father Hudson was born in 1873 to a Worcestershire family. He was educated at Oscott College in Birmingham and was ordained a priest on 1st November 1898.

With the growth of the factory system, increasing urban development and the exploitation of child labour, Father Hudson feared for the children who found themselves destitute through no fault of their own - helpless, friendless and powerless. From his earliest days in the small parish at Coleshill he formulated ideas to reach out and help innocent victims of circumstance.

At the turn of the century Pope Leo XIII invited the Bishops of the World to consecrate the new century to Jesus Christ by some special work of charity. The Bishop of Birmingham at the time, Bishop Ilsley, knew Father Hudson's ideas and so asked him, to undertake the rescuing of the children for the Diocese of Birmingham.

So it began. Stretching from Stoke on Trent in the north down to Oxford in the south, the Birmingham Diocesan Rescue Society was formally set up in 1902. Father Hudsons devotion to the children and his patience and energy guided its development : so the society became colloquially known as Father Hudson's Homes.

Father Hudson remained at Coleshill from 1898 to 1934. During that time it grew and expanded including St Vincent's, a home for working boys in Moseley Road, Birmingham, St Edward's Boys Home in Coleshill and St Gerard's Hospital for children. A network of 'agents' were set-up throughout the diocese to report on any cases that arose for referral to “The Homes.”

In 1925 two new schools were established in Coleshill through the Society and many of the Sisters undertook training in general Nursing for the Hospital. The children's homes grew including new homes for girls at Coleshill and foster care ('boarding out') began.

The Catholic Child Welfare Council began in the early 1900's with Father Hudson as its first secretary. It was and still exists as a federation of the Diocesan Children's Societies.

Fr Hudson was also the first secretary of the Catholic Emigration Society, a national society formed in 1903 from the many regional ones. A new home was set up in Ottawa in Canada, run by the Sisters of Charity of St Paul, called St George's and Fr Hudson made about 30 trips to Canada.

In 1912 an extension was opened at St George's and a new home for Girls was begun. Canadian emigration ceased in 1935 and emigration to Australia took place between 1938 - 1939 and 1948 - 1955.

Father Hudson retired in 1934 due to ill health and in 1936 he died. He is buried in the grounds of the Society in Coleshill, and his unceasing work, and the respect and love that he earned from the children in his care inevitably led all who were connected with the Rescue Society to look upon it as 'Father Hudson's Homes'.

Article copyright 2008 Father Hudson's Society