The Young Men's Christian Association was set up as a means of supporting the well-being and moral welfare of young men working in London. The draper George Williams started a Bible study and prayer group for some of his fellow workers. He was concerned that there were not enough healthy leisure occupations available to this group, and too many were resorting in consequence to taverns and even brothels. His group was so successful that similar groups were soon established in other major cities, as well as across London. Within a year, it was expanding into other areas, offering public lectures and educational courses, creating places for reading and refreshments, and later also to holiday camps. Just over a decade after it was first …
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Citation: Editors, Litencyc. "Young Men's Christian Association founded". The Literary Encyclopedia. First published 30 August 2013 [https://staging.litencyc.com/php/stopics.php?rec=true&UID=4872, accessed 23 November 2024.]
