Lacey, Janet (1903–1988)

English philanthropist. As director of the Inter-Church Aid department 1952–68, she oversaw the foundation of Christian Aid Week in 1957 (renamed Christian Aid in 1964). She later moved to the Family Welfare Association and the Churches' Council for Health and Healing. She was the first woman to preach in St Paul's Cathedral and received an honorary Lambeth Doctor of Divinity in 1975. Her views on aid are expressed in A Cup of Water (1970).

Lacey was raised in Sunderland. She worked for the Young Women's Christian Association (YWCA) in Kendal, Dagenham, and at the end of World War II with BAOR (British Army of the Rhine) in Germany. In 1947 she joined the British Council of Churches as youth secretary.