Faith Gray

Faith Gray born Faith Hopwood (31 January 1751 – 20 December 1826) was a British diarist and school founder who, with Catharine Cappe, improved education in York for poor girls and at the Grey (now Blue) Coat School.

Life Gray was born in York. She was the first of seven children born to Margaret (born Batty) and her husband Jonathan Hopwood. In 1765, when she was fourteen, she began the diaries that made her notable. She recorded how she spent her time reading and sewing with her mother whilst her brothers also read, but learnt languages.

In 1782 she began an enterprise with Catharine Cappe. They created evening classes so that the workers at a local hemp factory could learn to read there and at Sunday School each week. With Cappe, The school was staffed by women volunteers and the girls were taught to read and to spin and in return the student's were paid wages for their work and clothed. Cappe wrote that the purpose was to "excite a spirit of virtuous industry among the children of the poor". The parents were keen because they were clothed as the students were taught how to create garments from the yarn they had spun. Given this education, the students were able to apply for better paid work and avoid the options usually open to poor uneducated girls. She and Faith Gray founded the York Female Friendly Society in 1788. The society was open to ex-students of the Grey Coat School and to their "School for Spinning Worsted". The society's object was to provide basic health insurance for its members.

The York Female Friendly Society continued to operate until 1976 and members continued to meet socially until 1984.