Ayres, Anne (1816–1896)

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Ayres, Anne (1816–1896)

Protestant religious. Name variations: Sister Anne. Born in London, England, Jan 3, 1816; died at St. Luke's Hospital in New York, NY, Feb 9, 1896; came to the US in 1836.

As Sister Anne, became the 1st member of an American sisterhood in the Protestant Episcopal Church (1845), then founded the Sisterhood of the Holy Communion (1852), which was affiliated with the Church of the Holy Communion in NY City; became head of housekeeping and nursing at newly constructed St. Luke's Hospital in NY (1858); with William Augustus Muhlenberg, also opened St. Johnland, a refuge for orphans, the homeless, and the handicapped, on Long Island (1865); wrote Evangelical Sisterhood (1867) and Life of William Augustus Muhlenberg (1880).