Called to Ireland, it was not long before he had interested a number of friends in forming the Dublin City Mission in 1828. In his subsequent travels throughout Ireland he initiated other societies and town missions. 

The burden of his heart and the vision God had given him for many years was for a London City Mission and so with the prayers and a measure of financial backing from Christians in Dublin he set out for London. The London City Mission was founded in Hoxton on May 16th 1835.
From London City Mission, Magazine, Vol. 149. No 1506. "The Dublin City Mission was greatly used of God in reaching the people of Dublin with the Gospel. The Annual Report for 1903. for example, shows that Dublin City Mission, had eleven full time missionaries, working door to door in the City. The Dublin City Mission headquarters were first located at Merchants Hall, Wellington Quay. 

Some years later more suitable premises were found necessary and in the year 1879, the Mission procured a site in Anglesea Street, on which a Hall and a number of offices were built. The offices were let for business purposes and the rents received from them assisted materially in the upkeep of the Hall and the remuneration of the missionaries. 

In 1903, Rev. J.C. Irwin made the following proposal at the 75th Annual Meeting of Dublin City Mission, "There never has been a time from the days of the Apostles when so much prayer and energy had been put forth in connection with foreign missions as there is at present. But they should be very careful not to spend all their time in thinking of foreign missions. I believe there is a Mission to be carried on at home, in their own country, and especially in the city of Dublin." Baptist Pastor Hugh D. Brown, in seconding a previous resolution said that he unreservedly commended the Mission. 

In December 1939, Dublin City Mission moved to their newly built headquarters in Cashel Road, Crumlin, Dublin. This area was chosen because Dublin Corporation were building some three to four thousand houses for working people. Another factor was that people were moving from the centre of the city, bringing a consequent fall in numbers attending the Hall in Anglesea Street. 

In 1940 Mr. Gerald Brady (later known for his labours with the Dublin Medical Mission ) was welcomed on the Dublin City Mission Committee. "Droppings of blessing" at the new Hall began when in December 1940, Mr. John Cochrane of the YMCA Evangelization Scheme, spoke at a "Special Effort" for three days. A few made " a profession of allegiance to the Saviour." 

Mr. C.H. Hardman, Honorary Secretary of Dublin City Mission, wrote in his Annual Report for 1941, the following:- Commenting on Matthew 9: 36-38 - "The imagination of most, if not all of us, is stirred as we gaze upon a surging mass of humanity, but alas, the impression thus made is only a passing one. Or again, we may pass along the streets of the slums of our city, with their crowded tenements, their dark and utterly dismal alleys, their streets thronging with ill-clad poor, but how often do they appear to our insensible minds, and hardened hearts, as just so many more of Dublin's less fortunate population. Are not our reactions frequently those of the cold religionists of the Gospel story, who passed supinely by "on the other side'". When some of the more fortunate slum dwellers are transported to a new and healthy housing area, such as Crumlin, our emotions at seeing them in such numbers are stirred, perhaps even less than they would be in the city, for have they not their improved conditions, their healthy amenities, their new houses with coloured roofs and tended gardens ? How prone we are to allow our consciences to rest content with these temporal benefits. But we are forcibly reminded by the Scripture (reference above) that it was not so with our Divine Lord and Master. With Him was vision. It is true He saw the multitudes, and gazed into the upturned faces of the crowded throngs, but they were not to Him as so many heads of population, but so many individual souls, each and every one of whom drew forth His deep sympathy, and moved Him to compassion for them in their spiritual need". The Founders of the Dublin City Mission caught at least something of their Master's spirit, and we who follow them in the work, in whatever capacity, must seek Divine grace to recapture that Christ-like vision, that compassionate love, and that spiritual insight, which sees the real need of souls, often as scattered sheep with no shepherd to care for or feed them, for truly, without such a vision the Mission will be of little lasting use". In the same Report (1941) Mr. Godkin, City Missioner in the Crumlin area, speaks of help given in his work by Miss Eva Stuart-Watt, who made available to him many portions of Holy Scriptures for distribution.

The Dublin City Mission also availed of material help from the Dublin Mansion House Coal Fund, the Tea Merchants' Association and the Women's Temperance League. A second Evangelistic Mission was held from 16th March to 30th March, 1941. The speaker was Mr. William Millar, Organising Secretary of the Irish Alliance of Christian Workers' Unions. "His earnest messages and appeals stirred many hearts and resulted in a time of blessing and refreshment, much needed in the work, which had not been commenced very long in Crumlin. Crumlin Hall was made available to other Christian workers throughout the year. Those who used the Hall contributed towards its expenses. Miss Lily Pilgrim was Secretary of Dublin City Mission in 1945. She will be better known to readers for the role she played as Matron of the Dublin Medical Mission in more recent years.

Mr. S. Godkin died in July 1946 and Mr. Eric Holmes took over as Missioner in Crumlin. In his Annual Report of 1946, Mr. Holmes records thanks to Miss Gray and the Irish Baptist College, Dublin for help given at the Gospel Meeting at Dublin City Mission. It was indeed a mammoth task for one Missioner to try reaching the Crumlin district of Dublin.

 In his report for 1947, Mr. Holmes gave some statistics of population' "In 1902 the population of the area of Crumlin was 984, and according to the 1936 Census it was 12,966. At the present time it is estimated at 50,000. There are still tremendous tracts of land which have not yet been built on. In the near future it is hoped that under a present building scheme, 2,000 new houses will have been erected and a recent newspaper report says that in all probability about 10,000 more people would be coming into the area. Of the present estimated population of 50,000 at least 47,000 of these are Roman Catholics.

One School, situated in North Crumlin is reported to be one of the largest in Europe, it has nearly 5,000 pupils. The convent School situated half a mile away has 4,000 and the Christian Brothers School has 2,000 pupils. Not far away lies the Dublin City Mission and what a challenge to the Gospel of Christ, when we see how enterprising is the Devil ... Many houses are being visited for the first time by the Dublin City Mission." It is interesting to note that Crumlin is still part of the Mission parish in 2001. Added to this is an area of similar size, Ballyfermot. 

Crumlin Hall was later sold to the Brethren Assembly in the area. Some years after it was sold to the Dublin Corporation, who still hold the property. Following the resignation of Mr. Holmes there was a period when the work of Dublin City Mission lay dormant. 

In March 1963 Mr. Robert J. McAlister was appointed to resume the work of the Mission. He was their last Missioner before the amalgamation in 1965.

Dublin City Mission, Annual Reports usually included a list of Instructions to Missionaries. Some of these were:-
1. Visit the inhabitants of the district assigned you, for the purpose of bringing them to an acquaintance with salvation through our Lord Jesus Christ, and of doing them good by every means in your power.
2. Read a portion of the Scriptures, and offer prayer if practicable, in every house or room you visit; introduce into your conversation as much of the Scriptures as possible and see that the terms used are understood. In reading or speaking let those portions that bear on the depravity of man, justification by faith alone, the necessity of a change of heart, and holiness of life, ever hold a prominent place.
3. Inculcate upon all persons the duty of searching the Scriptures as a revelation from God, and as the standard by which they shall be judged at the last day.
4. Urge upon all persons you visit the necessity of attending the public worship of God .. and duty of attending the ministry of the Gospel. Specify no particular Church or Chapel, leaving those you visit the selection of the place most accordant with their own views, provided that in that place the great doctrines of the Reformation are faithfully taught.
7. Circulate no tract or book in your district which has not been approved and recommended by the Committee.
10. Devote yourself entirely to the objects of the Mission, and abstain from all secular employment. Spend thirty six hours every week in visiting from house to house, exclusive of meetings and other engagements. Give yourself to study of the Scriptures and to prayer.
11. You are to avoid the giving of temporal relief, as not your department of Christian effort, and as interfering with the integrity of your special work.

On 20th October, 1891, eleven ladies met in Dublin to pray about the opening of a Medical Mission. Dr. Henry Soltau had been in the city, giving accounts of medical mission work. His addresses were the means of convincing some of God's servants as to the necessity for such a work, with its peculiar opportunities amongst the poor of Dublin. So, these ladies met to ask for definite guidance and for the Lord's blessing upon the project. Their prayers were answered and in January of the following year a Committee had been formed and a doctor secured. The doctor began almost immediately to visit in the slums of Dublin.

The 4th Annual Report gives the Mission's name as "Dublin Visiting Medical Mission". Application was made for a vacant house which was considered suitable for medical work: it had been a Pawn Broker's premises but at the time was only occupied by a neighbour's goat. A member of Committee bought the building and let it at a very reasonable rent to the Mission. 

The following note appears in the Jubilee Report of Dublin Medical Mission, "On the human side, much of the success of the Mission is due to the late Mrs. E.J. Figgis, who, with a heart on fire for God and souls, threw herself most enthusiastically into the work, spending and being spent in the service of Him ' Whose service is perfect freedom'". Pending the acquisition of adequate premises, two small rooms at Inns Quay were obtained and on the 8th April, 1892, the first Dublin Medical Mission Dispensary was held. Dr Long had made the best preparations possible: his laboratory was a press, the doors of which were taken off and laid across two orange boxes to form a counter: A trained nurse, who had been appointed matron, and two dispensers trained for this purpose, were in attendance. Only two patients came that day but "Who hath despised the day of small things?" A beginning had been made. The Mission moved in August 1893, to the spacious premises at 6 Chancery Place. The work had been commenced in prayer and was fostered by the same spirit, and God's blessing rested upon it. Nothing hindered its growth. The number of patients steadily increased, a large majority of them always being Roman Catholics. The work went forward quietly, avoiding publicity on account of the nature of the work, but finding acceptability with the people whom they sought to reach. It soon became necessary to engage a second doctor and Dr. Albert G. Fenn was appointed. About the same time the greater part of the house next door (No. 5), was taken over for the purposes of extension. Each provision was made in answer to prayer.

From the start, the Gospel message brought light where darkness had reigned and its power was demonstrated in the transformation of degraded lives. It would be impossible to tell of the number who have "passed from death unto life" throughout the history of the Dublin Medical Mission - To God be the glory.  As the work developed and extended, the number of staff increased, and the Mission became a training ground for many missionaries who served the Lord in India, China, South America, Persia and in different parts of Africa.

In 1896, Dr. W.F. Pigott became an almost indispensable part of Dublin Medical Mission work. He acted as the senior physician, while junior doctors came and went, gaining experience and passing on to other spheres of service. There were about forty honorary workers helping with the daily routine. Others who became household names at the Dublin Medical Mission were Dr. Barkley McCullough (Physician) Miss Lily Pilgrim (Matron) and Mr. Gerald Brady (Secretary).From the Jubilee Report of Dublin Medical Mission:- "There was no little opposition from the enemies of Truth, which increased as the success of the work was assured and many of the patients were subjected to persecution in one form or another. Within the past fifteen years the opposition has become more open, and now men and women, members of the Roman Catholic community, stand outside our premises, endeavouring to intimidate the patients and offering free tickets to Roman Catholic dispensaries." It was in 1923 that the Roman Catholic Legion of Mary began to picket the Mission premises at 5 & 6 Chancery Place. The picket continued its activities until 1989.

During the years of 1952 and 1953 a group of young Dublin Christians were challenged concerning the plight of the poor in the city. After much prayer, including nights of prayer, in the home of Miss E.H.T. Rogers, 3 Temple Terrace, Dalkey, Co. Dublin, Miss Ellen Warner, who lived with Miss Rogers, suggested to the group of fellows and girls that they should do something about the poor of Dublin. Mr. Ian T. Turner was used of God to spearhead this work. He was faithfully assisted by Miss Ruth Espey, Bob Rudd, Leslie Shaw, Kathleen Wann, Evelyn Tutty, Gordon Farrar, Rita Kelly, Victor Kelly, Alan Egar, Robin Cochran, Hilda Whelan, Gladys Tutty, George Quill, Ethnie Fitzsimmons, Miss Ellen Warner and Jean Giff. Although many of the initial prayer times were held in the home of Miss Rogers, Dalkey, Mr. Turner also sought the help of people in Dublin who had premises available. He found a warm welcome in the Irish Church Missions, Townsend Street, where Rev. T.R. Horan afforded him much encouragement. Meetings were also held for prayer and discussion in the Office of Mr. C. H. Hardman, a Christian Solicitor, in Molesworth Street. Although living at the Dalkey address and participating in the times of prayer there, Albert V. Shaw did not get involved in the work itself until it was six months established. He was involved in YMCA, Youth Work and open-air witnessing in the city.

A basement was rented at 10 Blessington Street, Dublin, and meetings commenced there in 1953. The new work was called Dublin Mission and the promise upon which it was started is found in Philippians 4:19, "And my God shall supply all your need according to His riches in glory, by Christ Jesus". Space does not permit to relate the times when that promise was fulfilled and proved, as needed finance came through many channels - it was an on-going miracle. The work grew at such a rate that the basement was found to be totally inadequate. Prayer was made and we applied to the Dublin Medical Mission Committee for possible use of their premises. They agreed to accommodate the Dublin Mission from September 1960 at an annual rent of £60.

Dublin Christian Mission has seen one local Church formed through its ministry. This group met at the Mission from 1977. Being made up usually of young people, the numbers fluctuated quite a bit. The members were involved in all the Mission Clubs, in Open-air witnessing and other forms of outreach. A number of those young people went on to college for further Biblical training and then to the mission field. Prayer and Bible Study meetings (Junior and Senior) were held on Tuesday evenings from 7.30 p.m. to 9.30. p.m. This group, the Evangelical Church Fellowship, continued to meet and called Liam Joyce of EMF., to be Pastor. The fellowship ceased to meet in February 1995. A second group started to come together in September, 1991, in the home of Mrs. Glynes Doyle in Ballyfermot. Once again this group was made up mainly of young people. It met together until 1995 when rooms became available in the premises of the Congregational Church in Kilmainham. The group ceased to meet in 1997. There are currently three nurture groups for young people, a homegroup for the homeless and a Christian 12 Step programme for those dealing with addiction issues.