History

The Boys' Brigade

William Smith was born on 27th October 1854 at Pennyland House, Thurso, Scotland. At 15 he moved to Glasgow to work in his uncle's business. While there, he joined the volunteers and by 19 he had become a Lance Corporal in the 1st Lanarkshire Rifle Volunteers. The very same year he joined the church after hearing the evangelists Moody & Sankey. By 1883 William Smith had become a Lieutenant and was teaching in the North Woodside Mission Sunday School. The boys in his Sunday School class were a challenge, and he was open to new ideas about how best to deal with them. Someone suggested that the methods used in the volunteers might be appropriate, and by this inspiration the Boys' Brigade was created. William Smith took a leading role in the new organisation, accepting a full-time post as the first Brigade Secretary in 1887. He worked non-stop for the movement, on two occasions even crossing the Atlantic to promote the Boys' Brigade in Canada and the U.S.A. Throughout he remained Captain of the 1st Glasgow company, rarely missing a meeting In 1909 William Smith was knighted by King Edward VII for his service to boys. Sir William Smith died on 10th May 1914 after being suddenly taken ill at a Boys' Brigade meeting in London. He was buried in Glasgow.   8th Carrickfergus 8th Carrickfergus Company is connected to Holy Trinity Church Woodburn Road, Carrickfergus. www.churchesuk.org  Holy Trinity was a Church extension of St Nicholas Church pictured below, the oldest Church in Carrickfergus dating back to the 11th century. On Easter Sunday 2000 Holy Trinity became a parish. On Thursday 14th September the Rev. Alan McCann was instituted as Rector. Holy Trinity, pictured below, was built in 1992 and the Boys' Brigade started in September of that year. The company operated under the title 4th Carrickfergus "A" with 4th Carrickfergus being the company associated with St. Nicholas Church.   The present Captain of 8th Carrickfergus, Mr. Drew Buchanan was also Captain of 4th Carrick from 1984 to 1988. During November 1993 the Company was enrolled as 8th Carrickfergus with 33 Anchor Boys, 16 Junior Section and 8 Company Boys on the roll. On Sunday 2nd October 1994 Mrs. Jean Stewart presented the company Colours in memory of her brother Roy McCune.  The colours were dedicated to the Glory of God and for the use of 8th Carrickfergus by Rev. Derek Kerr, Chaplain assisted by Rev Brian Courtney, Chaplain 4th Carrickfergus Boys' Brigade.  The service was attended by representative from the Northern Ireland District, East Antrim Battalion and the other Companies in Carrickfergus.  Mrs. Jean Stewart was previously the Captain of 4th Carrickfergus. In March 1998 we launched an appeal to businesses and individuals with an interest in the work of the Boys’ Brigade and as a result we were able to purchase our laptop. This has enabled us to use the Internet, update our WebPages and hold a computer badge class for the company section boys. At the beginning of a new Millennium, the officers thought it only right that we should mark the occasion in some way. Following numerous meetings it was decided that we should do three things. Give something to each boy. At our annual display in March 2000 each boy and officer were given a millennium T shirt Give something back to the environment. We planted a tree in the church grounds followed by a BBQ for all boys, officers, parents and friends. Over 250 people turned up. Give something to the Church. At our annual enrolment service we presented the Church with collection plates.         We celebrated our tenth anniversary by holding another stage show in Downshire School on Friday 22nd and Saturday 23rd March 2002. On Monday 8th April we presented all our awards and each member received a framed copy of the Boys' Brigade Prayer and a engraved pen to mark our tenth anniversary. On Monday 29th April we held our birthday party in the Church Hall. The photograph shows our Tiger Club boys with our Anniversary Cake       On Sunday 20th October 2002 at 6pm in Holy Trinity we held our 10th Anniversary Thanksgiving and Enrolment Service. The Speaker was Canon Brian Courtney. At this service all boys and officers received a Bible. The photograph shows the Captain presenting Canon Courtney with his copy.           At the start of our 17th session we have 11 1st year Anchors 37 Anchors, 36 Junior Section and 34 Company Section  and 5 Senior boys.