H. Grattan Guinness opens East London Institute for Home and Foreign Missions

Establishing a school in London’s East End created a daunting challenge that not many were willing to accept, except for Guinness. The East End was filled with poverty, sicknesses, and a rundown physical appearance, which earned it a reputation of being “slum” by 1873. Despite Guinness being born into privilege, he had a heart of compassion for the impoverished people. His idea was to train missionaries to aid those in need.

When looking through the East End of London, Guinness discovered numerous opportunities for serving. This gave him the motivation and derive to start a training school. The institute officially opened in March of 1873, originally having only six students. Within the first year those six turned into over one hundred applications which caused them to move into a larger building and expand all throughout East London.