In March 1763, Mary Bosanquet and Sarah Ryan moved into 'The Cedars,' one of the Bosanquet family's properties in Leytonstone.
They wished to establish an orphanage/school similar to John Wesley's Kingswood School.
Ryan had worked at Kingswood, and so provided the expertise Bosanquet needed in order to set up a similar school.
They hired a maid, and took in Ryan's orphaned niece, Sarah "Sally" Lawrence.
As they took in more residents and Ryan's health declined, they hired Ann Tripp as a governess.
Over time, other Methodist women joined Bosanquet and Ryan in their efforts, including Sarah Crosby and Mary Clark.

The women at The Cedars took in members of the poor from London, including those who had strayed from God's path.
The residents wore dark purple cotton uniforms and all ate together.
The children were taught manners, reading, religion, writing, nursing, and domestic skills, to prepare them for life after the orphanage/school.
They were subject to harsh physical punishment if they misbehaved.

Bosanquet was not just the owner of the orphanage, but in charge of much of its operations.
She would plan and lead worship, take care of the finances, teach the children, conduct weekly meetings with all the children, serve as a supervisor for Methodist meetings, and nurse the sick.
She would even invite sick women into The Cedars to be treated by her, and some of these stayed after being healed, to assist Bosanquet in her efforts.

Bosanquet and Sarah Crosby instituted nightly Scriptural readings and prayer, due to the lack of a Methodist Society in Leytonstone.
To improve the religious environment in the orphanage, the women asked John Wesley to supply them with a preacher.
Wesley sent a Mr Murlin to preach, who evidently had success, as soon the orphanage became a Methodist Society.
Bosanquet and Crosby continued to hold their own religious services on Thursday nights and began to attract large crowds.
So successful were they that The Cedars became a centre of Methodism in Leytonstone.
Though some Methodist men began to express opposition toward Bosanquet and Crosby's activities, they were unable to stop them.

Over the five years that the orphanage was in operation, it supported 35 children and 34 adults.
Most of them were girls aged 15 to 20.
Bosanquet's work at The Cedars was praised deeply by Wesley.

In 1768, Bosanquet decided to move the orphanage to the country due to increasing costs, to provide a better environment for the children, and to seek fresh air for Sarah Ryan, who was becoming seriously ill.

It is significant to note that the creation of The Cedars had not gone on entirely peacefully.
When Bosanquet and Ryan first moved in, a crowd of villagers would throw dirt at anyone coming out of the house and yelled at and spied on the residents.
Bosanquet was once told that four men would attend one of the Methodist meetings held at the home in order to break it up.
Indeed, the men came and Bosanquet treated them kindly.
She conducted the meeting as usual, and gave each of the men Methodist pamphlets at the end.
The men reportedly took the pamphlets, bowed to Bosanquet, and left peacefully.
In March 1763, Mary Bosanquet and Sarah Ryan moved into 'The Cedars,' one of the Bosanquet family's properties in Leytonstone. They wished to establish an orphanage/school similar to John Wesley's Kingswood School. Ryan had worked at Kingswood, and so provided the expertise Bosanquet needed in order to set up a similar school. They hired a maid, and took in Ryan's orphaned niece, Sarah "Sally" Lawrence. As they took in more residents and Ryan's health declined, they hired Ann Tripp as a governess. Over time, other Methodist women joined Bosanquet and Ryan in their efforts, including Sarah Crosby and Mary Clark.
The women at The Cedars took in members of the poor from London, including those who had strayed from God's path. The residents wore dark purple cotton uniforms and all ate together. The children were taught manners, reading, religion, writing, nursing, and domestic skills, to prepare them for life after the orphanage/school. They were subject to harsh physical punishment if they misbehaved.
Bosanquet was not just the owner of the orphanage, but in charge of much of its operations. She would plan and lead worship, take care of the finances, teach the children, conduct weekly meetings with all the children, serve as a supervisor for Methodist meetings, and nurse the sick. She would even invite sick women into The Cedars to be treated by her, and some of these stayed after being healed, to assist Bosanquet in her efforts.
Bosanquet and Sarah Crosby instituted nightly Scriptural readings and prayer, due to the lack of a Methodist Society in Leytonstone. To improve the religious environment in the orphanage, the women asked John Wesley to supply them with a preacher. Wesley sent a Mr Murlin to preach, who evidently had success, as soon the orphanage became a Methodist Society. Bosanquet and Crosby continued to hold their own religious services on Thursday nights and began to attract large crowds. So successful were they that The Cedars became a centre of Methodism in Leytonstone. Though some Methodist men began to express opposition toward Bosanquet and Crosby's activities, they were unable to stop them.
Over the five years that the orphanage was in operation, it supported 35 children and 34 adults. Most of them were girls aged 15 to 20. Bosanquet's work at The Cedars was praised deeply by Wesley.
In 1768, Bosanquet decided to move the orphanage to the country due to increasing costs, to provide a better environment for the children, and to seek fresh air for Sarah Ryan, who was becoming seriously ill.
It is significant to note that the creation of The Cedars had not gone on entirely peacefully. When Bosanquet and Ryan first moved in, a crowd of villagers would throw dirt at anyone coming out of the house and yelled at and spied on the residents. Bosanquet was once told that four men would attend one of the Methodist meetings held at the home in order to break it up. Indeed, the men came and Bosanquet treated them kindly. She conducted the meeting as usual, and gave each of the men Methodist pamphlets at the end. The men reportedly took the pamphlets, bowed to Bosanquet, and left peacefully.
Mary Bosanquet Fletcher