Laura Francis

Laura Francis (1865 – 1 December 1946) was an Australian Christian missionary and itinerant evangelist, best known for her work with the Sisters of the People, serving the city poor in the slums of Sydney.

Early life Laura Francis was born in West Maitland, New South Wales, in 1865, a daughter of Edwin Francis and Mary Ann (née Starr). The family moved to Grafton in 1871. Laura converted in her early teenage years and was active in the local Methodist congregation.

In 1890 she wrote a letter to the Reverend Willian George Taylor, superintendent of the Central Methodist Mission in Sydney, about his plans to form a Sisterhood of unmarried ladies to act as pastoral assistants in helping the poor people of the city. She volunteered her services for the charitable work, on the condition that it would soon be established. Otherwise she would apply to another City Mission, The Salvation Army.

Ministry

Sisters of the People

Sisters of the People was founded in Sydney in 1890 by Methodist minister Reverend William George Taylor. Part of the Central Methodist Mission (now known as Wesley Mission) a home was set up at 88 Woolloomooloo Street, Woolloomooloo, and five women entered to become Sisters of the People with Laura Francis the first to sign up. The opening was announced on the front page of the Methodist Central Mission gazette on July 5, 1890.

Diary of Laura Francis Reverend Taylor and the Mission's Committee asked the Sisters to keep a journal of their mission work, and Laura Francis began hers on the day of the opening of the Sisters' Home, August 4, 1890. Sister Francis’ diary is held in the Mitchell Library, State Library of New South Wales.