1933

In 1933, Mrs Annie Pearce, wife of Rev. John Pearce, began the experiment that led to Resthaven becoming a reality. She welcomed an older lady into the care of her home at Brighton, and this number grew to three or four over the next couple of years.

These women paid their board and lodgings out of their meagre resources and were given the care and attention of a loving Christian home.

Mrs Pearce’s work was the practical partner to Rev. Charles Schafer’s vision and, for the Church, living proof of both the need and the way in which it could be met. It was soon apparent that there were a far greater number of women seeking admission to this type of accommodation and care than was expected, which helped to precipitate the formal proposal to establish the Old Folk’s Home.