Abstract
The purpose of this study is to evaluate Father Dolling’s humanitarian action during his tenure at Portsmouth and assess its relevance to twenty-first century inequalities, poverty, and exclusion. Primarily focusing on Dolling’s published work documenting the social crisis he encountered during his mission; evaluating the relevance of his approach to alleviate poverty, inequality, and exclusion amongst the poorest in Landport, Portsmouth; finally assessing its relevance to similar twenty-first century societal issues. It shows how appropriation by historians has discouraged research and application of Dolling’s work, in part, because of his supposed lack of widespread success. However, for those named individuals he helped it had significant impact on their quality and longevity of life. It briefly evaluates Victorian hagiographical biography and the authors accounting for inequalities and poverty to enhance understanding of ways to reduce twenty-first century injustices, the main conclusion drawn is that Father Dolling has significance in the research of poverty and inequality of the twenty-first century as he enters the debate which searches for solutions to these societal ills. Dolling’s struggles with the notion of state legislation, to help reduce disparity on an extensive scale, and his conviction of everyone’s individual responsibility (and resilience) to alleviate poverty and reduce inequality on a localised level. It displays Dolling’s conviction that acting against tribal thought of his employers was necessary when dealing with injustice. Concluding a cohesive partnership between government legislation and individual social responsibility are invaluable in reducing poverty, inequality, and exclusion in twenty-first century Britain.
Presenters
Matthew FisherStudent, MRes History, University of Portsmouth, Shropshire, United Kingdom
Details
Presentation Type
Paper Presentation in a Themed Session
Theme
KEYWORDS
History, Inequality, Poverty, Politics, Religion, Victorian
