ɪn wˈʌn θˈaʊzənd ˈeɪthˈʌndɹɪd ˈeɪɾi ˈeɪt, ʃiː bɪɡˈæn vˈɑːləntɚɹi sˈoʊʃəl wˈɜːk wɪððə wˈɛst lˈʌndən mˈɛθədˌɪst mˈɪʃən ʌv hjˈuː pɹˈaɪs hjˈuːz, hˈɛlpɪŋ ðə pˈʊɹ ʌv sˈoʊhoʊ, fɪtsɹˈoʊviə, ænd mˈɛɹaɪlbˌoʊn ɪn lˈʌndən, tˈeɪkɪŋ ðə nˈeɪm "sˈɪstɚ mˈɛɹi".
In 1888, she began voluntary social work with the West London Methodist Mission of Hugh Price Hughes, helping the poor of Soho, Fitzrovia, and Marylebone in London, taking the name "Sister Mary".