Presbyterian moderator praises influence of the Boys’ Brigade and Girls’ Brigade

The week-long visit to Carrickfergus and East Antrim, where 19 Presbyterian congregations, are located had historical significance with Carrickfergus presbytery the oldest in Ireland established in 1642 by Scottish Presbyterian migrants to Ulster.

On this tour, Dr Murray met up with the church's "uniformed organisations’ - BB and GB. On Sunday last, he spoke at the East Antrim BB battalion’s annual service in First Larne Presbyterian church and will attend the GB district parade at Gardenmore Presbyterian Church tomorrow. He also met with BB members at Ballyclare church on Thursday evening.

““Like other churches, the Presbyterian church has a long-standing, close relationship with the Boys’ Brigade and Girls Brigade, both of which play a significant part in the life of our congregations, our children and young people.

"It is not uncommon for parents who do not attend worship themselves, to send their children along to enjoy a varied programme of activities that support their personal development and help them to explore the Christian faith,” said Dr Murray.

There are 11,300 members of the Northern Ireland Boys’ Brigade, across 240 church groups (not just Presbyterian congregations), which also includes Co Donegal. In the Girls' Brigade in Northern Ireland there are 18,500 girls in 269 companies.

As two of the largest voluntary Christian youth organisations on these islands, they have a significant ministry in many Presbyterian, and indeed in some Methodist congregations.

The moderator said: “Week in, week out, hundreds of volunteers across our denomination play a vital part in the lives of so many children and young people through the BB and GB. I would commend each of them for serving Christ in this way.”

At the East Antrim BB battalion service, attended by more than 300 members, Dr Murray took his theme for the year ‘Mighty to Save’, focusing on the power of the resurrection of Jesus Christ.

He also spoke about his time in the BB growing up in South Belfast.

“I began in the BB in what was then called the ‘Robins’ until I was eight, moving to 84th Belfast Company in Lowe Memorial Presbyterian church in Finaghy until I was 18,” he said.

"One thing I want to get across to today’s BB leaders is that they should never underestimate the impact for good they can have on the life of each young person who comes along.

"Even today, I am still so thankful for the experience and my time in the BB."

* The Boys' Brigade was founded in Glasgow, Scotland on October 4, 1883 by Sunday School teacher Sir William Alexander Smith. He established what was the first uniformed Christian organisation in the world with his brothers James and John at Free College Church Mission. The BB motto is 'Sure and Steadfast' with the advancement of Christ's Kingdom among boys and the promotion of habits of obedience, reverence, discipline, self-respect and all that tends towards true Christian manliness. Today, the movement has an estimated 750,000 members in 60 countries. The Girls' Brigade is also a global organisation started in Ireland in 1893 and has since spread to more than 50 countries.