Our history
London Catalyst was established in 1873 (as the Metropolitan Hospital-Sunday Fund) when the Lord Mayor of London invited religious and hospital leaders to a meeting at the Mansion House.
Appalled by the effect of inadequate housing and sanitation on the health of the poor, they decided that on one day each year, in places of worship throughout Greater London, a collection should be made towards improving the health of Londoners.
Founding members included Florence Nightingale (nurse and medical pioneer), Elizabeth Garrett Anderson (first British woman to qualify as a doctor), Baroness Burdett-Coutts (philanthropist and heiress to the Coutts bank) and William Henry Smith MP (philanthropist and founder of WH Smith).
Today, over 135 years on, the charity continues to act as a catalyst and strives to tackle the unmet health needs of Londoners through its grant making.
Archive
A selection of the charity's archives are available on line and provide a fascinating record of our history, the emergence of public health services and the growth of modern philanthropy.