Society for the Relief of Widows and Children of Protestant Dissenting Ministers

Society for the Relief of Widows and Children of Protestant Dissenting Ministers, commonly known as the "Widows Fund," instituted 1733. For the relief of the necessitous widows and children of Protestant Dissenting ministers, who, at their death, stood accepted and approved as such by the body of ministers of the denomination to which they respectively belonged, and died so poor as not to leave their widows and children a sufficient subsistence. Previous to relief been given, the above must be attested by one or more ministers, and the petition signed by a member of the institution. Amounts varying from £9 to £12 per annum, amounting in the aggregate to £2,500, are annually distributed in relief. The expenses are very small, nearly the full amount of income being thus dispersed; it is derived chiefly from dividends, and between £300 and £400 from voluntary contributions.

There is no recognised office, the fund being managed by a committee, in a private manner.