Charles Dickens and The Müller Orphan Homes

George Müller was born in Prussia in 1805. After spells in London and Devon he moved to Bristol with his English wife Mary in 1832, where Müller became joint minister of the Bethesda Chapel in Great George Street and started to be concerned about the plight of the orphans in the city.

In 'My Book of Remembrance' (circa 1909?) Charles Brewer wrote:  

"In May, 1836, the first house for orphans was opened in Wilson Street, Bristol, which gradually extended to other houses in the same street. Then building was commenced on Ashley Down. The five large, massive stone houses stand forth as a practical witness and testimony to the reality of a prayer-hearing and answering God. Every penny for the erection of these buildings, and the care and sustaining of the work, was sent in without one single application ever being made, directly or indirectly, for anything.

"During the early days of these Orphan Homes, that celebrated wit and popular writer, the idol of his day, Charles Dickens, heard that the children were starving, and, coming down from London, called on Mr Muller, and demanded to be at once shown over the premises. To this Mr Muller objected, as it was not visiting day. This made Charles Dickens more determined in his demand, and he threatened all sorts of exposure. At length Mr Muller yielded and took him over the place, where Dickens saw everything in plenty and comfort. On his return he published in Household Words an article on “Brother Muller and his Orphan Work”. It had the effect of spreading a knowledge of the Institution in places where otherwise the work would not have been known. Thus God uses all sorts of instruments to accomplish His purposes, and to do his will."

Dickens Reading Tours

The Victoria Rooms in Clifton as it was in 1849. Now Bristol University Music Deparment it was, in the era of our picture, host to  Charles Dickens on his reading tours to Bristol