Guild History Timeline 1835 Archibald Hamilton Charteris, Guild founder, born, in Wamphray, by Moffat 1843 Disruption of 1843 : a schism within the established Church of Scotland, in which 450 ministers of the Church broke away, over the issue of the Church's relationship with the State, to form the Free Church of Scotland. 1856 Florence Nightingale returns from Crimea and starts campaign for improved nursing 1858 Archibald Charteris licensed as a minister 1863 Charteris marries Catherine Anderson 1880 Young Men’s Guild founded by Charteris 1884 Dr Charteris makes appeal to women of the Church through ‘Life and Work’ magazine to find out more about women’s work – such as that with the fisher women of Scotland 1885 Charteris appeals to the Assembly for permission to investigate and report back on, the work being done by women and the possibility of organising and official working unit. 1886 Woman allowed to train and practise as doctors in Scotland 1887 * Charteris and his Christian Life and Work Committee reported back to the General Assembly in May, and the following deliverance was passed: “The General Assembly approve of the suggestions for the better organisation of women’s work in the Church, direct the committee to proceed in carrying them into effect, and commend the object of training women workers for service in the home and foreign fields to the liberality of the members and friends of the Church” And so, the Church of Scotland Woman’s Guild was formed * Deaconess House opened; a home and school for women to be trained as deaconesses. Run by Alice Maxwell. Shortly after Guild starts, members agree to build girl’s school in Kalimpong 1889 Miss Davidson, deaconess, appointed first lady deputy to the work among the fisher folk. She had previously been a ‘roving ambassador’ for the Guild, inspiring women to membership. Women allowed to graduate from Scottish Universities (although had been allowed to study certain subjects for some time) 1891 * First Guild conference, first deaconess, Lady Grisell Baillie, allowed to preside over the morning session. * Lady Grisell Baillie died, aged 68, from influenza * Guild launches a ‘mothers’ union’ movement 1892 Dr Archibald Charteris , elected Moderator of the General Assembly of the Church of Scotland 1893 * Guild agreed to build hospital adjacent to the school in Kalimpong * First Guild badge launched: price 10d, or 9d as a pendant * Guild launches scheme to bring country produce to poor of the city, at reasonable cost (Country Produce Stores, Dalrymple Street, Edinburgh * 2nd(biennial) Guild conference * First Guild hymn – written by Charteris, text & tune no longer survive 1894 * Deaconess Hospital opened – named (formally) after Lady Grisell Baillie, first deaconess and first president of the Guild * Kalimpong hospital opens (both funded and provided with equipment by Guild members) * Guild Temperance Council was formed to ascertain number of abstainers in Guild * Mrs Charteris started Guild ‘marriages’ – to link rural braches with city ones to support and help each other (an early Guildlink) * Auxilary membership started (for those who didn’t have a guild in their parish – forerunner of Individual Membership) End century Second Guild hymn written;Oh Christ who died for me’ – popular for short time (text only in Out of Silence) 1898 Robinson Orphanage – responsibility for this taken over by Life and Work Committee – run by deaconesses, with Guild support Charteris retires 1904 Guild Cottage opened, in Lasswade, Midlothian– for women who ‘had fallen victim to intemperance’ 1905 Emmeline Pankhurst founds Suffragette movement 1907 Kirk Sessions empowered to bestow Guild Leader’s Diploma on woman of ‘particular zeal and ability’ April 1908 Dr Charteris dies - buried in Wamphray 1912 Arthur Gordon’s biography of Charteris published with help from Mrs Charteris. She sent copies of it to every Guild (765) Guild raised money to buy pulpit and falls for Charteris Memorial Church (now Kirk o’ Field Church, Edinburgh) 1913 Kalimpong school expansion continues and teacher training begins 1918 * Girls’ Guild started * 18 November 1918, Mrs Charteris dies, buried beside husband * Guild Cottage closed (drinking amongst women had decreased, possibly due to gaining control of homes and lives while husbands at war) 1919 Guild funded the opening of two hostels for women and girls – St Margaret’s in Park Terrace, Glasgow, and Lister House, The Mound, Edinburgh Early 1920s Merging of Presbyterial Guild Council and Women’s Association Foreign Missions Auxiliary to form one united council - the recognised presbyterial unit for women’s work in the church 1924 * Temperance work handed over to new organisation – Women’s Temperance Association * Presbyterial Councils, with reps going to Central Committee started. 1926 General Strike and start of Depression 1928 Guild formed Sub-Committee on Service to train Guild members in public speaking 1929 Union of Church of Scotland and United Free Church (Guild had been liaising with UF church for some time to coordinate women’s Groups in the churches. Groupings based on local groups and councils. Committees: Foreign Mission, Jewish Mission, Home Mission and Temperance. Mary Lamond only woman to speak at the official Act of Union event. 1932 First mass annual meeting in Usher Hall during General Assembly– to commemorate retiral of Miss Lamond. Held yearly thereafter. Request for Guild representative to be corresponding member at General Assembly turned down. 1935 * Part of annual meeting broadcast by BBC * Lizzie Meredith first president to chair Central Committee 1937 * Jubilee year – additional funds sent to Kalimpong for expansion and remodelling of school and hospital * Annual Meeting held at Waverley Market (instead of Usher Hall) to accommodate numbers wishing to attend - 7000 * Guild president allowed to chair Guild central committee – previously it had to be a man who chaired the meeting! * Long Service Certificates, with badge and bar launched to recognise 25 years of service. 1939 * Annual Meeting held in McEwan Hall (instead of Usher Hall) (Last meeting till 1943) * Guild given responsibility for own finances – first fee was per group dependant on size, later becoming a capitation fee * Four year limit put on period of service for presidents – Lizzie Meredith last one to served for more than 4 years * Guild secretary now permitted to attend and be part of committees * Government Board of Trade authorised Guild members to receive special vouchers so they didn’t have to use own clothing coupons to obtain wool to knit for the troops 1943 * Young Mother’s Groups started * Ernest Bevin , Minister of Labour, invited 90 members of Guild to his conference of women in London to discuss implications of new welfare state 1947 60th anniversary celebrations included, * first Broadcast service * 3000 layettes sent out to German mothers as reconciliation 1953 President, Lois Jarvis invited to Westminster Abbey for Coronation 1954 Kalimpong hospital jubilee – funds sent for maternity department 1956 * Guild church at Barlanark dedicated * Guild exhibition at St Cuthbert’s * First Theme launched 1957 70th anniversary of Guild, and 25th anniversary of first annual meeting in the Usher Hall. Joint celebrations at the annual meeting on Tuesday 21st May. 1959 Ruling made by Central Committee that women to leave Young Mother’s Groups for the ‘main’ Guild when youngest child reaches 8 (this was dropped 1972) ‘Bulletin’ – Guild’s first magazine, started and edited by Grace Hay, President 1962 Young Mothers Fellowships given own constitution, making them part of Guild. First rep from Fellowship to serve on central committee was May Smith, later Guild President 1963 * Original committees disappearing and evolving into work of church boards. Guild members served on these boards and took news back to delegates at annual meetings * President Isobel Douglas set up policy committee and organised questionnaire. Members agreed to keep name as Woman’s Guild, president’s tenure limited to 3 years; 3 women serving as Board vice conveners invited to serve as Guild national vice presidents, along with 3 vps nominated by Central Committee * Isobel Douglas formed 6 VPs plus President into President’s Group 1965 Young Mothers became the Young Wives and Mothers – therefore including childless women 1966 First women elders ordained President Kathleen Grieve started Work Groups to organise annual meeting, theme booklet, schedules, conferences and start new magazine, ‘Spotlight’ 1969 * Projects : Annual projects started following Elizabeth Anderson’s trip to the World Council of Churches conference in Sweden; she was moved by the testimony of the third world delegates * First women ministers ordained * Guild (Elizabeth Anderson) invited to join and attend first conference of Women’s National Commission 1971 Guild set up Communications Group to ascertain views of members on matters of social concern 1972 Young Wives and Mothers became Young Woman’s Group, therefore including all women, not just married ones. President Madie Hart at forefront of fight for equality of women in church life, low numbers, despite previous legislation. She also fought for inclusive language. She encouraged the timing of the annual meeting to be changed (April) as women were able to become commissioners to the GA (couldn’t attend both) – Could therefore start to use Assembly Hall for AMs 1973 First April Annual meeting in Assembly Hall 1974 Guild Representative invited to be Corresponding member, annually, at General Assembly 1977 Lizzie Meredith died; fund instituted in her memory to finance Guild training sessions at Carberry during 70s and 80s Former President, Madie Hart founded Scottish Convention of Women Queen attended Guild’s 90th anniversary AM 1980 Guild took training courses ‘on the road’ for those who couldn’t get to Carberry 1982 * Anne Hepburn, national president, opens annual meeting with ‘God, our Mother’ prayer sparking controversy and debate at General Assembly * Guild campaign to boycott South African oranges as a protest against Apartheid 1987 * Guild Centenary – celebratory annual meeting Assembly Hall, Edinburgh * Discussion Topics launched * Guild Hymn written by Betty Ewart (Worship we our Lord and Father) * Sunday 26 April designated ‘Guild Sunday’ for centenary year only 1996 First Information officer appointed to take forward elements of new structure ie Project Partnership Scheme 1997 * Church of Scotland Woman’s Guild becomes Church of Scotland Guild * New constitution * Project Partnership Scheme started * Three-year strategies launches – ‘Riches in Poverty 1997-2000 * Special celebratory Annual Meeting in Royal Concert Hall, Glasgow 2000 Millennium banner exhibition tour - Jan 2000 to Jan 2001, ending in London New strategy (and projects ) launched: ‘Strength for Living 2000-2003’ 2001 Banner exhibition commemorative book and video launched 2002 ‘Thanks a Million’ campaign to mark Project Partnership Scheme raising £1m since 1997 2003 New strategy (and projects) launched: ‘Dare to Care 2003-2006’ Revision of Constitution finalised– more inclusive language 2004 First annual Guild Week - last week in November – to encourage Guilds to raise awareness of Guild work in their congregations and communities 2006 New strategy (and projects) launched: ‘Let’s Live: body, mind and soul’ 2007 The Extra Mile - as part of Guild Week, members were encouraged to walk two miles in support of, and in solidarity with, those who have been trafficked. This initiative led to the Guild staging an exhibition at the Scottish Parliament and addressing MSPs on the issue at a specially hosted meeting. Past Presidents and National Conveners 1887 – April 1906 Catherine Charteris (effectively acting as president , although title of president not officially attached to her until 1895) Became honorary president, on retirement, in 1906 until her death in 1918) Honorary President: Countess-Dowager of Aberdeen 1907 - 1920 Lady Polwarth (Mrs Scott) National President 1920 - 1932 Mary Lamond (became honorary President on retiral) 1932 - 1939 Lizzie Meredith (became hon Pres on retiral) 1939 – 1943 Allison Harvey (then youngest President: 37) 1943 - 1947 Elizabeth McKerrow 1947 - 1951 Anne Sutherland (later Jacobs) 1951 - 1954 Lois Jarvis 1954 - 1955 Ailsa Miller 1955 - 1959 Jessie Dingwall 1959 - 1963 Grace Hay 1963 - 1966 Isobel Douglas 1966 - 1969 Kathleen Grieve 1969 - 1972 Elizabeth Anderson 1972 - 1975 Maidie Hart 1975 - 1978 Mary Millican (was Girl’s Association national secretary) 1978 - 1981 Daphne McNab 1981 - 1984 Anne Hepburn 1984 - 1987 May Smith 1987 - 1990 Margaret Brown 1990 - 1993 Dorothy Dalgliesh 1993 - 1996 Mary Sherrard 1996 - 1998 Kathleen Forsyth (last President, first National Convener) 1998 - 1999 Catherine Nelson 1999 – 2000 Helen Longmuir 2000 – 2001 Elva Carlisle 2001 – 2002 Elspeth Kerr 2002 – 2003 Vivienne Macdonald 2003 - 2004 Moira Alexander 2004 – 2005 Elspeth Dale 2005 – 2006 Norah Summer 2006 – 2007 Lesley McCorkindale (youngest NC: 32) 2007 - 2008 Ann Bowie General Secretaries 1887 - 1892 George McAlpine 1892 - 1896 Ethel McInroy 1896 - 1906 Margaret Johnston 1906 - 1912 Mary Lamond (later President) 1912 - 1920 Jane Dods 1920 - 1925 Miss Cunningham 1925 - 1934 Miss J Bruce 1934 - 1945 Jeanette Martin 1945 - 1965 Janet Sim 1965 - 1974 ‘Bunty’ Inglis 1974 - 1976 Joyce Town 1976 - 1985 Kathleen Beveridge 1985 - 1998 Lorna Paterson 1998 to date Alison Twaddle Information Officers 1996 - 1998 Alison Twaddle 1998 to date Fiona Punton (formerly Lange) Editors 1891 - 1901 Catherine Charteris – first editor of Woman’s Guild supplement of Life and Work 1901 Mary Lamond took over ~L&W supplement, 1926 became Woman’s Work in the Church Mrs Elliot Anderson (thanked in 1957 for being hon ed) Mrs Sawyer (thanked in 57 for being hon ed of ‘guild page’ in L&W) 1959 Grace Hay – editor of first Guild magazine – the ‘Bulletin’ 1968 Mary Millican, first editor of Spotlight (later NP) Margaret Brown Anne Macdonald 1984 - 1986 Alison Twaddle (Spotlight) 1986 Ada MacLeod 1996 - 1998 Alison Twaddle (Guild Newsletter) 1998 to date Fiona Punton (formerly Lange) Bibliography 70th anniversary booklet Out of Silence : Mamie Magnusson The Life of Archibald Charteris: Arthur Gordon