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The International Service Fellowship, more commonly known as Interserve, is an interdenominational Protestant Christian mission agency which was founded in London in 1852. ==History== Interserve, which was originally called the Zenana Bible and Medical Mission, was founded as one of the zenana missions in the 19th century, with the aim of addressing the medical and educational needs of Indian women. In 1821 a Miss Cooke landed in Calcutta with the intention of setting up a school to educate young Hindu women. Although she experienced significant opposition from people unwilling to countenance the thought of women receiving an education she worked closely with the Church Mission Society〔Church Mission Society〕 to set up a school to teach young boys. In 1852 Mrs Mackenzie, a colleague of Miss Cooke’s, wrote to the social activist Mary Jane Kinnaird (who later founded the YWCA) to ask for her assistance in expanding the organisation’s work. Lady Kinnaird’s involvement〔"She (Lady Kinnaird ) was one of the founders of ... the Zenana Bible and Medical Mission, and the Young Women's Christian Association."--George Clement Boase Kinnaird, Arthur Fitzgerald (DNB00)〕 led to the rapid growth of the organisation and its expansion across India. In 1880 internal disputes within the organisation resulted in the Church of England Zenana Mission breaking away.〔Church of England Zenana Mission〕 From 1880 onwards the organisation became known as the Zenana Bible and Medical Mission as its focus expanded to include medical work. In 1881 a Zenana worker, Miss Bielby, met Queen Victoria at Windsor Castle to ask for her support in publicising the organisation’s work, a request to which the Queen agreed. At this time the organisation began to expand its sending bases as well, and workers were sent from Canada, New Zealand, Ireland and the USA〔USA〕 as well as from Britain. For the first century of its existence the organisation was run solely by women but in 1957 the decision was made to accept men as well. In 1987 the organisation was renamed “Interserve” to reflect its international status and its emphasis on practical service. 抄文引用元・出典: フリー百科事典『 ウィキペディア（Wikipedia）』 ■ウィキペディアで「International Service Fellowship」の詳細全文を読む スポンサード リンク
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