The First Canadian house

(St. Andrew's Abbeyfield)

in Sidney, British Columbia,

officially opened in September 1987.

 

The Third Canadian house (St. Peter's Abbeyfield) in Saanich, British Columbia,

opened in 1989.

On April 1, 2011, The Abbeyfield Society in the UK merged with Abbeyfield International.  The move will benefit both parties and increase the scope of the movement’s worldwide development.

 The International Board has become the International Council and its executive is run by the Abbeyfield Society in the UK. It is hoped that with a strong foundation in the UK, a more integrated worldwide community will evolve while at the same time preserve the guiding principles of the Abbeyfield movement and the independence of National Societies around the world.

 

Current National Societies
 * Australia
 * Belgium
 * Canada
 * France
 * Germany
 * Ireland
 * Italy
 * Japan 


 

 

 

History

 

 

In April 1955, Richard Carr-Gomm resigned from the Coldsream Guards; in September, he was released with a gratuity and a promotion to Major. That same month Richard moved to a bed-sitting room on Abbeyfield Road in Bermondsey, England and took on an unpaid employment as a home help and house cleaner in order to identify completely with the lonely people he was trying to help. In November 1955, he bought the first house on 50 Eugenia Road, South London to care for lonely elderly. With friends help, he created bed-sitting rooms for four elderly tenants. Richard became the housekeeper and cook. A "push on the door" sign ensured a steady stream of neighbours and visitors. Media interest and significant donations enabled the purchase of further houses. By April 1956, Richard bought a second house on 36 Gomm Road, and by the fall of 1957, Richard and his friends were running 2 bought and 5 rented Abbeyfield Houses which were home to 30 elderly residents.

 

Abbeyfield Society was founded on November 19, 1956. The Society was named after Abbeyfield Road where Richard had his lodgings and where he and his friends gathered to discuss the formation of the Society.

 

 

In 1959, the involvement of Christian Teamwork, a volunteer group of London businessmen headed by Christopher Buxton, led to the creation of a national network to acquire and run the growing number of Abbeyfield Houses.   The Abbeyfield movement became international in 1988 as societies were established in Australia, Canada, South Africa, the Netherlands and Italy. At present, there are 820 Abbeyfield Houses worldwide serving over 9,000 residents. Abbeyfield is present in 16 countries, including Japan and Mexico.

 

Associate Members
 *Ajijic, Mexico

 

 * Jersey
 * Netherlands
 * New Zealand
 * Poland
 * South Africa
 * United Kingdom
 * USA

50 Eugenia Road,

Bermondsey, the first Abbeyfield House

click here