RootsChat.Com
General => Armed Forces => Topic started by: CelticAnnie on Saturday 02 September 23 17:48 BST (UK)
-
This is a long shot; but perhaps this might mean something to someone.
An ancestor kept a diary in the last few months of his life in 1895, and at the back of it is what looks like an address book: he has listed some names and addresses, a couple of whom I recognize as having belonged to family/associates of his. One of the entries on the list reads, rather cryptically, "12/ officers of the S.P.C.K. Northumberland Avenue, W.C." Does anyone know what these initials might have stood for -- do they possibly indicate a military connection? A particular military battalion, perhaps? There are gaps in my knowledge of this man's life, but he did come from a military family. When I googled the initials S.P.C.K. what came up was the Society for Promoting Christian Knowledge; but that doesn't seem like a good fit for him.
As I say, this is a long shot; but if anyone has any ideas about those initials I'd be delighted to hear them!
CELTICANNIE
-
Society for Promoting Christian Knowledge.
The address fits.
-
Have you seen this?
https://www.lookandlearn.com/history-images/M559979/Offices-of-the-SPCK-Northumberland-Avenue-WC
-
Have you seen this?
https://www.lookandlearn.com/history-images/M559979/Offices-of-the-SPCK-Northumberland-Avenue-WC
Or this?
https://www.ribapix.com/Offices-for-the-Society-for-Promoting-Christian-Knowledge-Northumberland-Avenue-London_RIBA7207
-
Seems that today the building is the Nigerian High Commission (https://www.nigeriahc.org.uk/)
-
Oh, Gaffy and Watson -- bless you! Thank you so much! So the Northumberland Avenue leaves us in no doubt then: we have to be talking about the Society for Promoting Christian Knowledge! (I hadn't picked up the links you pointed to with the address). What I was reading in the diary as "officers" was clearly "offices"! (Well, his handwriting is very difficult to read -- that's my excuse anyway!) This is certainly food for thought in relation to this ancestor and has me re-evaluating him.
Thank you both so much for your help.
CELTICANNIE