TOYNBEE HALL. Founded in London by Canon Barnett, then rector of St. Jude's Whitechapel in 1884, and named after Arnold Toynbee, a brilliant economist and co-worker whose death shortly before had been hastened by his zeal for social reform, Toynbee Hall, the pioneer university settlement, inaugurated an important movement (see SOCIAL SETTLEMENTS). In the earlier years of his ministrations at St. Jude's, Barnett had succeeded in creating interest at Oxford and Cambridge in the problems of East London and had brought to Whitechapel a considerable num ber of undergraduates to spend their holidays with him and learn about social conditions. The connection which was established in this way prepared the universities for the suggestion of a closer union between them and the East End and Barnett's plan to found a settlement : that is, a house of residence for university undergraduates who might wish to live in an industrial area, was at once warmly supported. With money collected mainly at Oxford he was able to purchase and reconstruct premises next door to St. Jude's which had been used for the purposes of an industrial school and with the help of a band of "settlers" to commence activities which left an enduring mark on the social history of the period. Mainly these activities were concerned
with the collection of social data, with social experimentation, and with the amelioration of social and industrial conditions; but Barnett's underlying aim was to bring the generosity and learn ing of the young and the universities into effective relation with the industrial population so that both communities might come in time to serve ideals of citizenship and neighbourliness.
The War involved the closing of the hostels (Balliol house and Wadham house) which Barnett had founded for working men students at Toynbee Hall and in other ways suspended the opera tions of the settlement. Since 1919 however most of its customary activities have been resumed and its work as a "popular univer sity" has been extended. An important feature of its annual programme is now a large "American Summer School" which is attended by about 1 oo preachers, educationalists and social work ers from the United States, selected because of their interest in the international aspect of social and economic problems.
(J. J. M.)