Father James Nugent: Advocate for the Poor and Homeless in 19th Century Liverpool

1. The work of Father James Nugent

2. Father James Nugent (1822 – 1905) wearenugent.org

3. Father James Nugent (1822 – 1905) Father Nugent was born on 3 March 1822 in Hunter Street, Liverpool. This image shows Hunter Street, where Father Nugent was born and lived. He was ordained in 1846 at St. Nicholas’ Church, Liverpool. The first parish he was appointed to was St. Alban’s, Blackburn before moving to Wigan in 1847. In 1849, he was appointed to his home parish of St. Nicholas’ in Liverpool. wearenugent.org

4. Father James Nugent (1822 – 1905) Liverpool had changed from a semi-rural river area into a sprawling town and centre for trade and transport, for immigration and emigration. With its expansion came poverty, crime, and squalor. By 1847, the Irish Famine was as its height, and thousands flocked to Liverpool to escape it, only to end up living in poverty and overcrowding. wearenugent.org

5. Father James Nugent (1822 – 1905) 19th century Liverpool, like many other great metropolises, was a city known for its poverty, disease, child labour, hunger, imprisonment, alcoholism and poor housing. “Within day of arriving in the city, many would be reduced to theft or begging to survive, and indeed they became one of three classes; pauper, vagrant or thief.” Magistrate, Mr John Rushton (1849) wearenugent.org

6. Father James Nugent (1822 – 1905) There were crowds of dirty, poorly clothed, shoeless children with no educational skills and no prospects for the future. These children would either end up in prison or the workhouse. wearenugent.org

7. Father James Nugent (1822 – 1905) It would be during his time as Chaplain as Walton Goal for 22 years, where Father Nugent would realise and come to understand the real nature of the criminal poor. It was this experience which prompted him to deal with crime in its infancy. “There is no more practical school to study mankind than within the walls of a prison.” Father Nugent (1865) The streets were the schools of crime. wearenugent.org

8. Father James Nugent (1822 – 1905) In 1854, Father Nugent arranged a meeting of leading citizens and churchmen in Liverpool Town Hall. His rallying cry was, ‘Save the boy.’ His concern was the plight of the thousands of homeless children who survived in squalor only by begging or stealing. He continued to campaign on behalf of the poor and needy of Liverpool for the rest of his life. His first slogan had been, “Wanted: million pennies to Save the Boy,” which appeared in the Catholic Times in 1866. He started the Good Shepherd Appeal Collection in 1902. wearenugent.org

9. Father James Nugent (1822 – 1905) In a lecture on poverty and neglect of children, Father Nugent coined the phrase, ‘Nobody’s Children’ Homeless children without a heart to love them or a hand to guide them. They would roam through the crowded thoroughfares and along the five miles of docks. Father Nugent’s slogan became, ‘Save the Child.’ Father Nugent owed this slogan to his right-hand man, John Denvir who helped Father Nugent in many of his activities throughout the years. The image to the right depicts ‘Nobody’s Children.’ wearenugent.org

10. Father James Nugent (1822 – 1905) Father James Nugent can be remembered for his contribution to: Education Employment Entertainment Emigration wearenugent.org

11. Father James Nugent (1822 – 1905) Education He bought land in Rodney Street, Liverpool and built the first Catholic School in the city. “Education is not an absolute prevention against crime, yet it must always be an incalculable advantage towards gaining an honest livelihood in a town like Liverpool.’ Father Nugent (1864) wearenugent.org

12. Father James Nugent (1822 – 1905) Entertainment To distract the men from drinking, he would offer free dancing and entertainment n the concert halls of Liverpool. “Several districts in Liverpool have bad reputations of drunkenness and crime, which are conspicuous every night, and it is a common sight to find children huddled in doorways trying to sleep.” Father Nugent (1853) wearenugent.org

13. Father James Nugent (1822 – 1905) Emigration Father Nugent took the first group of 24 children to Canada on 18 August 1870, on the SS Austrian. Pictured right are some of Nugent’s children leaving Liverpool for a new life in the new world in the 1920’s. “Many of those Father Nugent helped by finding homes for in the United States and Canada are now prominent citizens in those countries.” Catholic Fireside (1896) wearenugent.org

14. Father James Nugent (1822 – 1905) Employment Father Nugent bought the Clarence Ship, to teach young men seamanship. The ship was destroyed by fire on 26 July 1899, no lives were lost. The crew and the boys were rescued by the ferryboats, ‘Mersey’ and ‘Firefly.’ Pictured right is The Clarence “Ship Reformatory” for boys. (Circa 1895) wearenugent.org

15. Father James Nugent (1822 – 1905) Father Nugent was inspired in his work by the success of Major Lester from the Anglican Church, and Mr L.S. Cohen, a local businessman and former Mayor of Liverpool. Father Nugent would become great friends with Mr Cohen, who would later organize the statue of Father Nugent in St. John’s Gardens, near St. George’s Hall. Pictured right is Canon Major Lester (1829 – 1903). His slogan was ‘Give a child a fair chance.’ wearenugent.org

16. Father James Nugent (1822 – 1905) “When I was hungry, you gave me food to eat.” “Prison afforded better food, shelter and clothing than could be found elsewhere.” Mr John Rushton, a Magistrate reporting to the Home Secretary in 1849. Mr Rushton became an ally and friend to Father Nugent. Pictured right depicts one of the many soup kitchens in Liverpool. wearenugent.org

17. Father James Nugent (1822 – 1905) “When I was thirsty, you gave me something to drink.” Father Nugent was appalled by the sight of many streets over-run by lots of homeless children, struggling for an existence by theft, begging and street trading in all its forms. “There were newsboys, match sellers, shoe polishers and musicians of a sort. Some of them not more than seven or eight. Girls, as well as boys, ragged, barefoot and starving.” Father Nugent (1853) Pictured right depicts one of the many water carriers that could be seen on the streets of Liverpool. wearenugent.org

18. Father James Nugent (1822 – 1905) “When I was a stranger, you took me into your home.” “These institutions began as a place of shelter for those who had nowhere to sleep. They were provided with a wash, food and drink, which usually consisted of bread and coffee.” Father Nugent (1853) Pictured right depicts one of the many groups that would queue up for a room for the night. wearenugent.org

19. Father James Nugent (1822 – 1905) “When I was without clothes, you shared yours with me.” “Many families were in extreme need, they would go to great lengths to scrape together the necessary coppers to clothe and feed themselves. Some of the men working on the docks and elsewhere needed boots and sometimes food was forgone to answer this requirement.” The Catholic Times (1881) Pictured right depicts the clothes and food that were depicted to the poor. wearenugent.org

20. Father James Nugent (1822 – 1905) “When I was in prison, you came to visit me.” “In prisons you find every variety of character, the work of reforming the criminal is not an easy task. It is a duty with which one must not shrink from o grow faint-hearted over, though it is at times disappointing.” Father Nugent (1869) Pictured right depicts life inside a Victorian prison. wearenugent.org

21. Father James Nugent (1822 – 1905) “When I was ill, you took care of me.” Pictured right is an ambulance from one of the charity hospitals, where treatment was free to the poor and the homeless alike. wearenugent.org

22. Father James Nugent (1822 – 1905) On 30 August 1896, to mark Father Nugent’s, 50 years in the Priesthood, a solemn High Mass was held in St. Nicholas’ Pro-Cathedral in the presence of a representative gathering of his friends of all classes and creeds. In 1897, at St. George’s Hall (right), the then Lord Mayor of Liverpool, The Earl of Derby presented Father Nugent with a portrait of Father Nugent which was done by an eminent local artist. This is now in the Walker Art Gallery where it is displayed periodically. wearenugent.org

23. Father James Nugent (1822 – 1905) On returning to Liverpool, after an extensive tour of America and Canada, in May 1905, Father Nugent suffered a bad fall from which he never fully recovered. He died at 4am on Tuesday 27 June 1905, aged 83. At his funeral the following Thursday, thousands of people lined the route to Ford Cemetery. Throughout the city, flags were flown at half mast as a tribute to his memory. wearenugent.org

24. Father James Nugent (1822 – 1905) On 8 December 1906, the people of Liverpool erected a bronze statue of Father Nugent in St. John’s Gardens, near St. George’s Hall. This statue commemorates Father Nugent as: Apostle of Temperance, Protector of the Orphan Child, Consoler of the Prisoner, Reformer of the Criminal, Friend of all in Poverty and Father of the Poor. wearenugent.org

25. Father James Nugent (1822 – 1905) Today, Nugent continues the essential work started by Father Nugent as Nugent charity. Nugent supports 6,000 vulnerable children and adults each year. Nugent, cares, educates, protects and inspires those in need, and is a voice for the voiceless. wearenugent.org