How it all began.
At a meeting held in Glasgow on 5th October 1919; attended by twenty-four Catholic gentlemen; Corkman Patrick J. O'Callaghan asked those present to agree to the formation of a new organisation, which would ultimately be called the Knights of St. Columba. This proposal was agreed and a further meeting was convened. The new Order was to be modelled, as far as was practicable, on the example of the Knights of Columbus in the USA (founded by Fr. Michael J. McGivney in 1881).
As news of the organisation spread, over 100 applications for membership were received in the following weeks, with the first initiation of members taking place on the 11th November 1919.
On St. Patrick's day, 1920, the KSC held a concert in the St. Andrew's Hall, Glasgow, and as a result of this event, several hundred applications for membership were received - The Knights of St. Columba had arrived.
When the Order was founded, there was no immediate prospect of establishing Councils outside Scotland. However, by the early 1920's the Knights of St. Columba had crossed the border to England with a foundation in Liverpool. By 1925 the Order had reached London. From that period and up to the outbreak of World War II; was the heyday of the Order with up to 200 members at a time being initiated at a ceremony. The period following the Second World War was again a time of expansion, but during the late 1950's/early 1960's, with the decline of the inner city parishes and dispersement of the Catholic population, recruitment slowed. At present there are around 5,000 members; 340 subordinate Charter Councils; 31 Provinces; around the UK, from Inverness in the North to the Isle of Wight, the Channel Islands, the Isle of Man and from Cornwall to East Anglia.
Province 1 the Mother Province of the order was the first and was erected in 1920. During these past 90 years there have been highs and lows but through all that time the commitment to “Serve God by Serving Others has been at the forefront of our ideals.
As news of the organisation spread, over 100 applications for membership were received in the following weeks, with the first initiation of members taking place on the 11th November 1919.
On St. Patrick's day, 1920, the KSC held a concert in the St. Andrew's Hall, Glasgow, and as a result of this event, several hundred applications for membership were received - The Knights of St. Columba had arrived.
When the Order was founded, there was no immediate prospect of establishing Councils outside Scotland. However, by the early 1920's the Knights of St. Columba had crossed the border to England with a foundation in Liverpool. By 1925 the Order had reached London. From that period and up to the outbreak of World War II; was the heyday of the Order with up to 200 members at a time being initiated at a ceremony. The period following the Second World War was again a time of expansion, but during the late 1950's/early 1960's, with the decline of the inner city parishes and dispersement of the Catholic population, recruitment slowed. At present there are around 5,000 members; 340 subordinate Charter Councils; 31 Provinces; around the UK, from Inverness in the North to the Isle of Wight, the Channel Islands, the Isle of Man and from Cornwall to East Anglia.
Province 1 the Mother Province of the order was the first and was erected in 1920. During these past 90 years there have been highs and lows but through all that time the commitment to “Serve God by Serving Others has been at the forefront of our ideals.