The Girls’ Friendly Society was founded in London in 1875 by an Irishwoman – Mrs Elizabeth Townsend to support girls who came from the country to work in the city, and to teach them skills which would enable them to gain employment.

It was the first girls’ or women’s organisation in the Church of England. It was a society for friendship and recreation in which all girls might share, bound together in a fellowship of Christian love and service. The movement spread rapidly all over England and came to Ireland in 1877 and also to America and Australia about the same time.

Now the Society is alive and serving girls and women in all those countries of the world where our Church is to be found. The motto, purpose and prayer have not changed down the years but one generation after another has found fresh inspiration in them.

1877: First meeting in Ireland to make plans to form a GFS here, meeting held in Bray with the Rector and his wife, Archdeacon and Mrs Scott, Countess of Meath, Mrs Alexander (author of many well known hymns, ‘There is a Green Hill’. etc.) and Miss La Touche.

1878: First office opened with Miss La Touche as Registrar or Secretary– girls helped to find suitable jobs here.

1880: First GFS hostel and recreational centre opened – Molesworth Street, Dublin and later Frederick Street.

1884: Queen Victoria became Patron – sent £50!.

1884: Ireland gave lead in starting Candidates.

1885: Emigration Department opened to help girls going to Canada and USA.

1900: Queen Victoria visited Dublin and a new GFS Hostel in Rostrevor named after her as a memorial of her visit.

1905: First hostel opened in Belfast.

1908: Queen Mary became the Patron.

1910: Larger hostel opened in Upper Merrion Street.

1914: Various War work undertaken, Savings Group, Club for War nurses (Q.M.A.A.C.) ‘Vigilance’ work started. Hospital beds endowed, etc.

1919: Victory Fete held in Mansion House -£1,000 raised to repair Rostrevor Hostel.

1927: Jubilee year, many celebrations to raise money to buy new GFS House. Money presented at a Pageant using ‘Oak leaf’ symbols. Jubilee Banner of St Brigid presented to St Patrick’s Cathedral.

1929: ‘Oak House’ purchased at 34 St Stephen’s Green and the organisation moved in there in 1930. GFS had been spreading through the World wherever the Anglican Church was to he found.

1955: GFS in England’s 80th Birthday -there was an International Conference on Isle of Wight and here the 1st World Council was formed and 29th September – Feast of St Michael and All Angels – set aside as the annual day of prayer.

1956: Second World Council held in Les Diablerets. Switzerland (5 Irish Delegates).

1958: Lambeth Conference – GFS World Wide Conference also (3 Irish Delegates).

1959: World Council in Australia. Decision to send GFS Worker to Kenya. This to be World Project until next World Council. Ireland represented in Australia by Ivy Kerr, Kilkenny Ossory Diocese.

1962: World Council in Ireland (Dublin) Theme ‘Peace through Friendship’. World project British Guiana.

1964: Decision to have training week-ends to enable girls to become All-Ireland Leaders.

1965: World Council in Japan – Beth Irwin. St Barnabas’ Branch, Connor Diocese, our representative. World Project – Japan.

1972: World Council in Melbourne, Australia. Our representatives were – Naomi McKinley, St Barnabas’ Branch. Connor Diocese, and Kathleen Linnegan, Diocesan Secretary, Derry Diocese. World Project – Lesotho.

1972: Oak House sold and new house bought in Orwell Road, Rathgar.

1973: May – World Chairman and English GFS President – Mrs C J Mandleberg addresses Central Council – first time for an English President to do so.

1973: Opening of new Oak House in Orwell Road – Mrs Mandleberg present.

1973: July – A party of Irish GFS, three from each Diocese went to Blacon, Cheshire, for holiday as guests of English GFS.

1975: World Council in London, England. Irish delegates: Hilary Johnston, Harmony Branch, Connor Diocese and Jean Lindsay, Kilmore Cathedral Branch.

1977: Centenary of GFS in Ireland. Opening of GFS Oak House, 36 Upper Leeson Street.

1977: Centenary of GFS in Scotland.

1978: Centenary of GFS in USA. World Council held in Los Angeles – Mrs Beth Mayes appointed World Chairman. Helen Trimble, Donaghmore Branch, Armagh Diocese Junior Delegate.

1979: Eva Hales project in Sierra Leone, Gambia and Liberia.

1980: First Leaders’ Conference in Greystones, Co Wicklow.

1980: Party of girls from Armagh visit Dublin and Glendalough over Easter weekend.

1981: World Council in Ireland (Coleraine). Theme: ‘Go Forward with Love’. Mrs Iwai of Japan appointed World Chairman.

1981: Irish GFS Members at Holiday Camp in Wales.

1982: Leaders Conference held in Greystones, Co. Wicklow.

1984: World Council held in Japan. Our representatives were Mrs. Mary Hinchliff, Central President and Patricia Matthews, Geashill & Killeigh Branch, Meath & Kildare Diocese. Mrs. Dilys Fowler of Wales appointed World Chairman.

1985: GFS supported the Owerri Weaving Project.

1986: All Ireland Conference held in the Theological College. Mrs. Dilys Fowler, World President attended.

1987: World Council in Wales. Our representatives were Mrs. Mary Hinchliff, Central President and Lorna Beattie, Magheralin Branch, Connor Diocese. Mrs. Subuola Thompson of Sierra Leone appointed World Chairman.

1988: All Ireland Training Week-ends in Carrig Eden, Greystones and The Theological College. Ireland published the World Day of Prayer Service.

1989: All Ireland Camp in Villiers School, Limerick. Members from England and Wales attended. England also hosted a Camp which Irish members attended.

1990: World Council in Sierra Leone. Our representatives were Mrs. Olein Gyles, Central President and Hazel Codd, Tullow Branch, Cashel & Ossory Diocese, Junior Delegate. Mrs. Joy Parkin of New Zealand appointed World Chairman.

1991: All Ireland Camp held in Rathdown School.

1992: Live Broadcast of Holy Communion from RTE on Sunday 26th April.

1993: World Council in New Zealand. Our representatives were Mrs. Olein Gyles, Central President and Alison Burnside, Donaghmore Branch, Armagh Diocese, Junior Delegate. Mrs. Joy Epton from England appointed World Chairman.

1996: World Council in England. Our representatives were Mrs. Maeve Hannon, Central President and Tanya Woods, Billis Branch, Kilmore Diocese, Junior Delegate. Mrs. Nobantu Makunga of South Africa appointed World Chairman.

1998: World Day of Prayer service sheet produced by Ireland.

1999: World Council in South Africa. Our representatives were Mrs. Maeve Hannon, Central President and Anne Healy, Cloughjordan Branch, Killaloe Diocese, Junior Delegate. Mrs. June Hillier from Australia appointed World Chairman.

2000: Millennium Services held throughout the country. An All Ireland Service of Thanksgiving held in St. Patricks Cathedral, Dublin on 7th May.

2002: World Council in Australia. Our representatives were Mrs. Emila Corrigan, Central President and Suzanne Henry, Connor Diocese, Junior Delegate. Mrs. Adele Ray from America appointed World Chairman.

2004: All Ireland Training Conference held in Dublin. Nineteen leaders commissioned in St. Brigid’s Church, Castleknock Church by Archbishop J Neill.

2005: World Council in America. Our representatives are Mrs. Emila Corrigan, Central President and Elaine Grothier, Cashel & Ossory Diocese, Junior Delegate.

Ruth Choi, Korea appointed World Chairman

All Ireland Camp—20th—23rd April

Venue– Kilkenny College, Co Kilkenny,

All Ireland Conference for Diocesan Presidents,Secretaries & Treasurers. Venue NUI Maynooth,

Co Kildare 16-18th June Garden Party at Buckingham Palace, London, to mark the occasion of The Duke of Edingurghs Awards 50th Anniversary

Mrs Florence Higgins, Central President and Mrs Pearl Smyton Diocesan President of Clogher Dioceses attended.

Leaders Training Days—Venues

Church Hall, Longford 8th of September

Parish Hall, Fivemiletown Co Fermanagh 15th September

Parochial Hall Portlaoise, Co Laoise 20th October

All Ireland Camp,- 27-30th March

St Columbas College Dublin

G.F.S. World Council in Seoul, South Korea

Mrs Emila Corrigan Commissioned as G.F.S. World President.Our representatives were Mrs Florence                                 Higgins, Central President and Ms Isla Poyntz, Kilmore Branch, Kilmore, Elphin & Ardagh Diocese Junior Delegate.

All Ireland Conference for Diocesan Presidents,Secretaries & Treasurers– Venue the D4 Hotel Ballsbridge, Dublin June.

All Ireland Camp– 7th—10th April

Kilkenny College, co Kilkenny

GFS World Day of Prayer Service, compiled and produced by Rev Janice Aiton , G.F.S. All Ireland Chaplin.

All Ireland Leaders Training Conference 25-27th June
Venue—The Killyhevlin Hotel, Enniskillen, Co Fermanagh

2010: All Ireland Leaders Training Day—16th October
Venue– Parochial Hall, Kells, Co Meath.

2011: G.F.S. World Council in Dublin Ireland 24th June—3rd July. Our Representatives were Mrs Emila Corrigan, World President  Mrs Florence Higgins, Central President and Miss Jane Cairns, Magheralin Branch Connor, Down & Dromore Diocese, Junior Delegate.

Mrs Glenys Payne from Wales was commissioned as the New World President at the closing service for World Council in Christ Church Cathedral Dublin on the 3^rd of July Leaders Training Day—3rd September

Venue—The Cathedral Hall, Kilmore, Co Cavan

Leaders Training Day—24th September The Parochial Hall, Portlaoise, Co Laoise.

G.F.S World Day of Prayer –29th September

Prepared by G.F.S. Japan (Theme; Towards a nuclear – free world)