MHA marks its 75th anniversary

History of MHA

July 1943 – the Methodist Conference agrees to proposals from a committee set up the previous year to:

‘Consider the advisability and practicability of establishing Methodist homes for people usually of sixty years of age or over, who desire to avail themselves of such amenities as the homes provide, and agree to contribute to their means’.

This was years before the current Welfare State or the NHS were set up, as the Rev Walter Hall recognised the need even then to support older people. His vision was supported by the Methodist Church with funding for the first home, The Ryelands in Wallington, Surrey - and a values-led, innovative organisation was born. 

75 years of MHA

75 years on from the agreement of the Methodist Conference to the setting up of MHA, the charity is continues to deliver the care it was initially set up for.

Fast forward to 2018. MHA now runs 90 care homes, 72 retirement living schemes and 61 Live at Home schemes, supporting more than 18,000 older people across England, Scotland and Wales, employing 7,000 staff and enjoying the support of over 5,500 volunteers.

It continues to invest in services for older people, as evidenced by its newest care home – Montpellier Manor near Middlesborough which opened its doors to its first residents in March 2018.

Now that calls for a celebration!

As part of its celebrations, MHA is holding a Service of Thanksgiving at Derby Cathedral on Saturday 13 October, starting at 3pm.

The event will be an opportunity to celebrate the foresight of our founders as we remember those we have cared for over the years, the dedication of our staff, volunteers and supporters - and look forward to the next chapter in MHA’s history.

The service is free of charge but we would ask that you book tickets online due to the capacity of the Cathedral.