"From small acorns we have grown. Our history before you"

Our history

1st Sunderland Girls Brigade is part of Girls' Brigade Ministries which is part of a global family, founded over 100 years ago.

The Girls' Brigade was founded in 1965

On 10 June 1965 The Girls’ Brigade Ireland, The Girls’ Guildry and The Girls’ Life Brigade joined together to create one international organisation – 
The Girls’ Brigade.

This date is now known as the International Day of Prayer – and GB members around the world pray for girls, young women and the continuing ministry of Girls’ Brigade.

The Girls Brigade Ireland 1893 Rooted in the Gospel, Miss Margaret Lyttle started a girls’ club in Sandymount Presbyterian Church in Dublin in 1893. Starting with just a regular warm-up PE session for the girls during Sunday school, the girls-only group soon become a formally recognised group with a constitution and uniform called The Girls’ Brigade Ireland. Their motto – ‘The establishment of Christ’s kingdom amongst girls’.

The Girls Guildry - Scotland 1900 By the start of the new century, the women of Glasgow went on to establish, The Girls’ Guildry in 1900 for the girls and young women of Scotland.     Their motto – ‘Helping girls to become mature Christian women’.

The Girls Life Brigade -England 1902  Soon England had established The Girls’ Life Brigade. Girls’ Life Brigade offered time outside of Sunday School for girls to discover how God fitted into their lives and become responsible, self-reliant Christian women.

Girls' Brigade today

Today Girls’ Brigade Ministries, the operating name of Girls’ Brigade England & Wales, is part of a global family. Worldwide there are over 3,000 GB groups and over 126,000 members.

GB is active in 5 fellowships (areas):

1. Africa
2. Asia
3. Caribbean & Americas
4. Europe
5. Pacific.

Every country is united by its motto to help girls and young women Seek, Serve and Follow Christ.

1st Sunderland Girls' Brigade

was formed on the 1st December 1961. Mrs Joyce Welsh and Mrs Hilda Robson founded the company; as the 6th Sunderland Girls Guildry company.

The 1960's
The company, before being commissioned as a company, had to be established for three months. So on the 1st April 1962 the 6th Sunderland Girls Guildry Company was commissioned. At the time the minister of the church was Rev. Lewis Allison, he became the first chaplain of the company.

Three years later in 1965 the Girls' Guildry, the Girls' Life Brigade and the Girls' Brigade of Ireland nationally combined to form the Girls Brigade UK. During this time there were 95 members of the new 1st Sunderland Girls' Brigade, comprised of:

In 1967 the Captain, Mrs J Welsh left and Mrs M MacIver took over the captaincy in August 1968. The number of members continued to rise still and the brigade strengthened

The 1970's
Two years later in 1970 the company was at a strength of 108 members. There were only two officers in the company at this time so working with the girls was hard going but the company took part in the life of the church at attended divisional events. The largest section was the juniors, and the brigade was comprised of members as follows:

The company flourished even more and over the next few years the number of girls grew dramatically, there were at least 150 members. The juniors and seniors were the largest sections at the time with at least 45 attending each week. On company nights the explorers and juniors played games and had devotions together before splitting into their two sections for the activities of the evening. The seniors and brigaders where separate all night.

The company went to divisional camp, church parades and other organised events, as well as taking a full role in the week to week activities of the church. The minister of the church changed and so did the chaplain of the company to Rev R F Enticott.

The 1980's
In April 1982 Mrs M MacIver retired and Mrs D C Hitcham took over. The number in the company started to decrease due to peer pressure and the range of other activities that were becoming popular. In 1982 there were 92 members in the company, comprised of:

The chaplain of the company became Rev F Barron, he took a full part in the life of the company and came to the company night quite often. The company afterwards kept a steady number of girls.

The 1990's
Mrs K Brewis took over as captain in April 1993 when Mrs D Hitcham become unable to continue due to ill health, the chaplin also changed to Rev I Wales. At this time the company was comprised of:

The 2000's
Our recent history is still in the making, but some figures from the early 2000's are coming soon!

for more information on Girls Brigade please visit https://www.girlsbrigadeministries.org.uk/