It had long been the wish of Rev Doctor Elmslie, D.D., the minister of St. Paul's at the turn of the century, to have a Boys' Brigade Company as part of the Church activity. After a Company had been successfully established at St. Andrews, it was decided by the Kirk Session of St. Paul's, on 2nd July 1902, that a Company be formed. Mr Hector P. West, the Elder appointed Superintendent of the Richmond Branch Sunday School (which later became St. Columba) was asked to be the Captain of the new 2nd Christchurch Company. The annual report of 1903 says of the first year of the Company's operation that - 'so far results have been most gratifying. The number on the roll is over 30, while attendance at Drill on Fridays and Bible Class on Sundays is about 24 and 20 respectively. Two Lieutenants were enrolled, Messrs W. O. Pavitt and N. Proctor. Miss Gibb took office as Organist. The going was not easy for the new Company, and in the second annual report the Captain observed that there was not the attraction of the BB system here in the Colonies where the day schools operated Cadets, providing this area opportunities for Drill and service activity. Leadership also proved to be a problem, and despite appeals for leaders, there is no further mention of the Company, in any Church records after 1904 Annual Report. It would seem that the Company did in fact go into recess in 1904 or 1905. This Company was one of the earliest Companies in recorded N.Z. history, the earliest ones being at St. James' Presbyterian Church, Auckland, and Trinity Presbyterian Church, Timaru, both of which were formed in 1889. The next mention of any Brigade activity in St. Paul's was in the ministry of the Very Rev. Stuart C. Francis, in 1944. |
Founder Sir W. A. Smith |
Chaplain Very Rev. S. C. Francis B.A. 1944-63 |
Chaplain Rev. Doctor Elmslie D.D. 1902-04 |
3 The Pioneers 1902-1904 |
