Our History
GFS through the years
Mrs. Alison Jackson visited GFS South Africa and attends and speaks at the South African GBFS conference in Mthatha.
Mrs Thembeka Pama visit
All Ireland Camp – 6 – 8 April 2018 – Wilson’s Hospital School, Multyfarnham, County Westmeath.
5 – 14 May 2018 – Mrs Thembeka Pama, World President began visiting cluster countries in Ireland before going to England and Wales on 14th May 2018
Mrs Alison Jackson commissioned All Ireland President in St Patrick’s Cathedral, Armagh by Rev Tanya Woods.
22nd June – Mrs Alison Jackson, Tamara McKenzie, Amy Waters, Jennifer Wright and Victoria Hawkins attended a Garden Party at Áras an Uachtaráin celebrating the ‘Young People of Ireland and paying tribute to their Leaders’; hosted by President Michael D Higgins and his wife Mrs Sabina Higgins
22nd to 23rd June – All Ireland Conference for Diocesan Presidents, Secretaries, Treasurers and All Ireland Vice Presidents in the Church of Ireland Theological Institute, Braemor Park, Dublin
For the past: Thank God
For the future: Take courage
For the present: Seek Christ’s help
To be a good friend
To stand for purity and truth
To live not for yourself, but for others,
Therein lies the joy of life.
F. Ross Todd, GFS President
For the Diamond Jubilee – 1937
All Ireland Camp held in Rathdown School
All Ireland Camp held in Rathdown School, Dublin.
“The good shepherd giveth his life for the sheep.”
This window formerly in the Girls Friendly Society Chapel in Oak House was transferred by the Society to Christ Church Leeson Park in 1989.
GFS 70th Birthday
GFS 70th Birthday Celebrations in Dublin.
Sat 12th July-Rally in the Metropolitan Hall, Dublin.
Sun 13th July-Thanksgiving Service in St Patrick’s Cathedral, Dublin.
G.F.S. 1877 – 1947
Front and back view of the card given to Maud Allen
An example of the card that was given to members to encourage and support them in their faith. The actual example shown was given to Maud Allen (Parish of Donoughmore, Co. Wicklow in 1906 when she was 14 years old)
First hostel
First hostel –GFS Lodge –opened in College Street, Belfast.
Certificate of marriage
A certificate presented to a GFS member on her marriage in 1902.
First meeting in Ireland
GFS in Ireland was established and began on 22nd February 1877 when Viscountess Powerscourt, Viscountess Monck, Mrs La Touche, Rev’d J.A. Cross (Secretary) and Rev’d J.G. Scott, Rector met in the Royal Marine Hotel, Bray.
At the first meeting in Bray, 17 Working Associates were appointed with five more Associates added at a later date. GFS became a respected organisation supported by the Church of Ireland with families appreciating the fact that GFS was a guiding factor in the lives of females of all ages. Of particular interest was that Mrs CF Alexander, the hymn writer, was one of this first group of Working Associates. The first Central President was the Countess of Meath from Killruddery Estate, Bray.
The creation of GFS
GFS has a history starting in the 19th century by an Irish woman, Mrs Mary Elizabeth Townsend in England in 1875.
Mrs Townsend once wrote “If the power of rescue work will be so increased by organisation, why should no work be organised to save from falling?” In modern terminology, from its inception GFS was concerned with prevention.
Cut off from the support of friends and family, Mrs Townsend’s idea was for ‘Lady Associates’ to befriend and guide these girls, who would form the Society’s members. Today, we would probably call these Associates ‘mentors’. Girls could join GFS from the age of 12, but from 1882 those from the age of eight could become ‘membership candidates’.
This was the first girls and women’s organisations within the Church of England. It was a society for friendship and recreation where all girls might share, bound together in a fellowship of Christian love and service.
GFS was spreading quickly around the world and began its’ work in Ireland in 1877.
