The Guild

The third Monday of each Month from September through to  April.   2 p.m. in St Vigeans Hall.
Everyone welcome (men & women).

Resumes 16th September 2024

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Contact is Jean Duncan
tel. 01241 874882
[email protected]

About the Guild:
The Church of Scotland Guild, is one of the largest voluntary organisations in the country, having over 30,000 members; mainly women.  Men are gradually taking up membership, although our local area does not reflect this trend.  However, there are a few throughout Angus, and one enthusiastic man has taken on the role of secretary within Angus East Guild Presbyterial Council.  These Councils are an important part of the guild, providing stimulus and inspiration to the various branches.  They meet on a regular basis and each branch of the guild appoints a representative to attend these meetings to ensure that needs, suggestions and ideas may be responded to.  An interesting point relating to the Presbyterial Council is the fact that their first meeting was held in St Vigeans church in 1923.
The Women’s Guild was founded in 1887, by the Reverend A. Chartereris, and membership is open to all who accept the common aim. The aims, and the name, “The Guild,” were updated alongside the constitution, in the centenary year, 1997.  That year also brought some changes to the format, and the Project Partnership scheme was introduced.
The Project Partnership Scheme supports 6 projects every 3 years.  Significant contributions have been made to a range of projects - those affected by AIDS, drugs, poverty, and homelessness;  those in prison,  people with learning difficulties; and all those on the margins of society.  These projects are on almost every continent and have been carefully selected by a committee at headquarters. The guild is making a difference to the lives of so many, and during the first 10 years of the scheme over two million pounds was raised.
Our own Guild, here in St Vigeans, was established in 1923. In the past, minutes have been dutifully recorded and it is indeed quite humbling to glance through them (the ones in my possession begin in 1934) and note the names from earlier years of various women and the roles they played within our Guild.  Although we like to think we have moved with the times, fairly often the topics and discussions are similar to our present day syllabus, but there are differences now in how the group works. We have a very dedicated group of hardworking women on our committee, and we try to share the responsibilities.  At present, we have a co-ordinator, with committee members playing more of an active role.  The Guild may continue in this manner.  We try to be as flexible as possible and encourage members to give us their views, especially at the AGM.
Throughout the session, we try to find a way of raising funds for the support of the charities. This has taken various forms in the past: Daffodil Teas, Coffee mornings, Sales of Work , Concerts and Quizzes.  On a regular basis, we collect pennies in jars and change in sweetie tubes.  The pennies are donated to one of the local charities in the area, but the bulk of our fund raising goes to one, or all, of the Guild projects and to a Christian charity.