HISTORY

The Girls’ Brigade (Ireland) was set up in Dublin in 1893 and in July 1965 merged with The Girls’ Guildry (founded in Scotland in 1900) and The Girls’ Life Brigade (founded in England in 1902) to form The Girls’ Brigade.

All organisations set out to offer significant opportunities for girls and young women, as well as giving them Christian teaching, and GB has continued to do so ever since.

The Girls’ Brigade in Bristol started around 1950 with companies associated with churches (mostly Congregational – now URC – Methodist and Baptist). By the 1970s there were 30 groups organised into 4 Districts in the Bristol Area Division.

Groups met weekly for varied activities arranged in 4 categories – spiritual, physical, educational and service. There were 4 age groups known as Explorers, Juniors, Seniors and Brigaders.

The uniform was quite formal including shirt, tie, blazer, hat and white gloves for parades, when everyone marched with colours (a flag for each company, district and division) on the streets to church accompanied by GB/BB (Boys’ Brigade) bands. The Division also put on displays in the Colston Hall (now known as the Bristol Beacon) and even performed at the Royal Albert Hall.

Girls’ Brigade has adapted with the times resulting in much less formal uniform (typically a coloured polo-shirt with logo) but still offers a wide range of activities and opportunities. The key aspects of this Christian organisation remain however, of friendship and support in a stimulating environment aiming to help girls to lead fulfilling lives, as promised by Jesus.