3-052-589 - The Print Collector/Heritage Images

St. Saviour's Church, Oxford-street, [London], for the deaf and dumb, 1880. 'St. Saviour's Church is the first that has been erected and specially devoted to the worship of the deaf and dumb, about 2000 of whom reside in London and its suburbs. Unable to receive benefit from ordinary ministrations, they need a special provision adapted to their circumstances, the services being conducted in the finger and sign language. St. Saviour's was erected by the Royal Association in Aid of the Deaf and Dumb...The Duke of Westminster gave the site...Mr. Arthur Blomfield was the architect. The church proper is on the upper floor; a spacious lecture-hall, occupying the basement, in which lectures are delivered to the deaf and dumb, and their debating and temperance societies' meetings are held...The services...are generally quite silent; but on Sunday afternoons...a series is held, at which bishops and other dignitaries preach, and the sermons are interpreted to the deaf and dumb'. From "Illustrated London News", 1880.