Lacey, Janet (1903–1988)

views updated

Lacey, Janet (1903–1988)

English aid worker. Born 1903 in England; grew up in Sunderland; died 1988 in England.

The 1st director of Christian Aid, worked for YWCA in Kendal, Dagenham, and with the British Army in Rhine, Germany, at end of WWII; joined British Council of Churches as youth secretary (1947), moving to inter-church aid and refugee department and becoming director (1952); held hugely successful Christian Aid Week to encourage wider public awareness (1957); continued in role as director, creating "Freedom from Hunger" campaign (1960–64) and changing organization's name to Christian Aid (1964); helped redirect Christian Aid focus to global poverty, funding development projects in 40 countries; became involved in Family Welfare Association and Churches' Council for Health and Healing; was 1st woman to preach in St. Paul's Cathedral; wrote A Cup of Water (1970).