THE BOYS' BRIGADE

Founded by Sir William Alexander Smith

Southport & District Battalion

Enrolled 1946

The Boys' Brigade is the worlds premier voluntary youth organisation founded in Glasgow by Sir William Alexander Smith on 4th October 1883. It's object is the advancement of Christ's Kingdom among Boys and the promotion of habits of Obedience, Reverence, Discipline, Self-Respect and all that tends towards a true Christian Manliness. Worldwide the membership now stands at around half a million. 
In 1905 the Brigade came to Southport and in June 1946 with six companies the Southport & District Battalion was formed. Over the past 60 years new companies have continued to be established and now there are eight. 
Southport itself is a popular holiday resort in the North West of England and is an ideal location for Company Camps as well as family holidays.

LOCAL B.B. COMPANIES

(including Church connection and year of enrolment)

1st Southport - SS Philip & Paul's Parish Church with Wesley - 1905
3rd Southport - Victoria Methodist Church - 1972
4th Southport - SS Simon & Jude's Parish Church - 1910
7th Southport - Liverpool Road Methodist Church - 1945
9th Southport - Ainsdale Methodist Church - 1970
10th Southport - Marshside Road Methodist Church - 1962
14th Southport - Saint John's Parish Church, Ainsdale - 1978
1st Ormskirk - Emmanuel Methodist/United Reformed Church - 1962
 

HOW THIS SITE WAS DESIGNED

A B.B. badge in the sand on Southport beach is depicted as the background. The red of the Cross radiates from the badge and whilst preparing this page, J M Neale's translation of a 6th Century hymn by Bishop Venantius Fortunatus came to mind: "The royal banners forward go; The Cross shines forth in mystic glow; Where he in flesh, our flesh who made, our sentence bore, our ransom paid; Where deep for us the spear was dyed, Life's torrent rushing from His side, to wash us in that precious flood, where mingled Water flowed, and Blood." Incidentally, the Cross was only added to the badge in 1926 when The Boys' Life Brigade amalgamated with The Boys' Brigade. The anchor bears our motto, from the Epistle to the Hebrews, 'Sure & Stedfast' and is a reminder of the firm foundation our Blessed Lord & Saviour, Jesus Christ, gives to all who follow Him. 
Gold, blue and green have been used for the text colours to represent Southport's celebrated features; sun, sea and floral displays.