When thinking about community priests and the charities they’d run for the community, I created several service organizations. However, most of them weren’t inspired by charities in Regency England, but charities we have now. (The joy of creating a fantasy kingdom!) Below are descriptions of each type, along with how they appear in The Goddess’s Illusion and the inspiration behind them.

Almskitchens

Almskitchens are charity kitchens that community priests run in cities to give free meals to any who ask. Read the book extra describing them here. At the beginning of The Goddess’s Illusion, Mel runs all the almskitchens in Ormas, and he later shares serving at them with Kit. Almskitchens are inspired by soup kitchens, charities that were around in Regency England. Run on the principles of Count Rumford, soup kitchens were found throughout the United Kingdom at the end of the 18th century, although they were banned in Britain in 1834, but this ban was relaxed in the 1850s.

Family Refuges

Family refuges are shelters that community priests run to provide temporary protection and support for families escaping abuse, mostly women and children. While providing refuge, the priests help those suffering abuse decide how to build new lives by providing counseling to empower them, legal advice to protect them from their abuser, and training to ensure they can support themselves and their families. Family refuges are special to Kit because of her childhood with her drunkard father, and they’re inspired by women’s shelters. Definitely not a charity in Regency England, although temples in parts of Asia traditionally sheltered abused women. (FYI, the abuse stats Jemima mentions in The Goddess’s Illusion are taken from a 2010 study in the United States.)

Prayer Houses

Prayer houses are spiritual retreats that community priests run to help people find peace and well-being so they can better connect to the Goddess through prayer. Because people find peace differently, they provide various options: a small chapel for prayer, complete silence, the scent of Goddess laurels, a conservatory with trees and songbirds (i.e. nature), a thermal mineral bath, an elegant tea ritual, massage, counseling, meditation, or flowing movements. Most who serve in prayer houses are priestesses, like Mel and Kit’s friend Sarah (who proudly shows Kit the prayer house she serves in.) Prayer houses are inspired by spas and other spiritual pursuits. The tea ritual is like East Asian tea ceremonies, and the flowing movements is like tai chi.

Youth Guilds

Youth guilds are centers that community priests run to engage youth through activities and foster their education, spiritual growth, and sense of community. Youth guilds are inspired by youth centers. Sadly, I didn’t get to feature them much in The Goddess’s Illusion, but maybe in future books!