Yvonne Smith bought these cards
from the nuns and teachers
of Old Palace School in Croydon.
They show different stories
from the Bible.
The money raised was used
to help fund missionary work in Africa.

Yvonne describes buying the Bible Cards:

"When I was a girl
I went to Old Palace School.
Some of the nuns and the teachers there
used to sell these cards
with Bible stories on them.
They were very keen
on our knowing the Bible
and these cards were for sale
for perhaps tuppence each
and I bought them
with my pocket money.
It was a way of raising money
for missionary societies,
and helping children in Africa,
providing them with
corrugated iron roofs for their huts,
and spreading the Gospel."

A missionary is someone
who is sent to another country
to spread religious teachings
and usually also to do social
and medical work.
The nineteenth century
saw the peak of British Christian
missionary activity.
Missionaries travelled to all parts
of the British Empire
as well as other countries
such as China.
Missionary activity continues today,
often closely connected
to development work.

We are working hard to write
an ‘Explore’ page for every object
in the Museum of Croydon.

If you would like to suggest
a visit, website or book
which would help people
find out more about this object
then please contact us:

Museum of Croydon
Croydon Clocktower
Katharine Street
Croydon
CR9 1ET
Tel: 020 8253 1022
Email: museum@croydon.gov.uk