Church Lads' and Church Girls' Brigade
The Church Lads' and Church Girls' Brigade is a Church of England youth organisation with branches in the United Kingdom, the Republic of Ireland, Barbados, Bermuda, Kenya, South Africa, Newfoundland and St Helena. It was founded in 1891 as the Church Lads' Brigade with its sister organisation, the Church Nursing and Ambulance Brigade for Young Women and Girls, later the Church Girls' Brigade, founded in 1901. The two Brigades amalgamated in 1978 to form the Church Lads' and Church Girls' Brigade.
The Brigade's Patron Saint is St Martin of Tours. A
Sections
The Brigade is split up into groups. These correspond with the age of the members:
- The Martins (Named after the saint): 4 to 7 years of age.
- The Y Team (Previously YBC: Young Boys Corps and YGC: Young Girls Corp): 7 to 10 years of age.
- JTC (Junior Training Corps): 10 to 13 years of age.
- Seniors: 13 to 21 years of age.
- Staff/Veterans: 21 Years onwards.
Members can become leaders and staff and continue to contribute to the CLCGB for very long periods of time.
What Happens In Brigade
Members do badge work which will earn them an award at the end. These activities may include helping the environment, learning about faith and life skills. Badge work also incudes sport and each February, battalions are invited to take part in uni-hoc contest. The different companies stay at Butlins, in Skegness for 2 or 3 nights. Medals are awarded to the winning teams. Recently, the contest has been dominated by the Peterborough Battalion, who in February 2006, were in present in each medal section. Uni-hoc is much like hockey, however is played with a puck, and plastic hockey sticks. There is also an athletics competition in which regiments compete for the trophies.
Many Brigade companies in the United Kingdom also have a marching band, with instruments such as: drums, bugles, cymbals and glockenspiels. Several bands also run successful brass and woodwind bands with a range of varied instruments. Brigade's teach their members these instruments and encourage lessons outside of the Brigade itself. There is a National Band Competition for the bands to compete in which takes place annually around May time (most recently held in Hinckley)within which many of the Brigade companies take part from all over the country including Leicestershire, East Anglia and the North of England. The current champions are a St Andrews New Earswick, a company located in York. To support individual companies the CLCGB runs a National Band, aiming to extend the talents of its members by providing training and an opertunity to play in a band of over 60 members. In the past the band has toured the European continent and most recently the New York City, USA.
Members are also encouraged to attend church at least once a month and there is a brigade prayer:
'Heavenly Father, bless and guide with your spirt the work of The Church lads' and Church girls' brigade. Help us never be ashamed to confess the faith of Christ crucified. To fight valiantly under His banner against sin, the world and the devil, and to continue as his faithful soldiers and servants to the end of our lives. Amen'
External links
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