"On 3rd December 1898 a number of Priests and Laymen attended an inaugural meeting at Church House, Westimster, with the object of forming an organization of Servers with a constitution and government, Fr E. Denny, Vicar of S. Peter's, Vauxhall was elected the first Warden and the Revd A. G. Deedes, Vicar of S. John the Divine, Kennington, was elected the first Chaplain-General. Bro. Jacob and Bro. Hill were elected Secretary and Treasurer, together with a Council of fifteen members. ......................

Fr Denny, was appointed to compile the Guild Collect, the Guild Office and office for admission; the designing of the Guild Medal was left to the Chaplain-General. .......... On 15th April 1899 the first 188 members were admitted. The first Chapter was The Holy Cross, for the Streatham area. The first Guild Office was sung on 7th June at S. Mary Magdalene, Munster Square, London............"

"The first overseas Chapter was sanctioned in October 1899, S. Barnabus, Ottawa, Canada"

This is quoted from "The First 75 years" a guild publication that can be purchased from Cllr. N. Makepeace. ( See publications area on the website)

It contains much of the information about the struggles of our earlier brethren.

We give thanks for their lives and example. May they rest in peace and rise in Glory.

  On 3rd December 1898 a number of Priests and Laymen attended an inaugural meeting at Church House in Westminster with the object of forming an organization of Servers and Acolytes with a constitution and government. Fr E. Denny, the Vicar of S. Peter’s, Vauxhall, was elected as the first Warden and the Revd A.. C, .Deedes, the Vicar of S. John the Divine; Kennington was elected the first Chaplain General. Bro. Jacob and Bro. Hill were then elected Secretary and Treasurer, together with a Council which composed of fifteen members. Thus, on this day, the first steps were taken which would bind all Servers together in the Services of the Sanctuary and form the beginnings of the Guild, as we know it today.

Peter Keat (The Server Editor)

I will be dealing with this in the Autumn edition of The Server