Lissara Presbyterian Church

Great is Your faithfulness, O God my Father

1st Crossgar Company, Boys’ Brigade

The Boys' Brigade has been around for more than 120 years (a brief history of the formation is available by clicking here and brief details of the early years by clicking here) and is part of the boyhood experience of many adults. (A fuller history of the Boys' Brigade is a available by clicking here)

We resist the temptation to live in the past because our function is to serve today's young people.

Our Founder, Sir William Alexander Smith, included in our objective, "The Promotion of habits of Obedience, Reverence, Discipline, Self-Respect and all that tends towards a true Christian manliness" and that has not been changed.

What has changed is how we go about promoting that object. We recognise that the influences surrounding our young people are not always helpful and that too many lose control at great cost to themselves, their families and the community. The answer is to catch the energy and enthusiasm of youth and to channel it purposefully.

Boys' Brigade: -

Develops a boy's awareness of his own community and creates opportunities for service.
Develops latent leadership qualities so that boys become contributors to the life of their community - not just takers.
Encourages boys to get involved in their Company, their Church and the community, and this involvement means taking responsibility for what happens.
Does not confine itself to well motivated and prosperous young people. It offers support and interest to the less fortunate and recognises the value of adult interest as young people develop.
Is staffed by unpaid officers with only a small core of full time staff. The officers give of their time to provide the activities within our local unit - the Company, which itself is part of the local Church.

Our Company is split into a number of sections.

Anchor Boys - for Boys aged 5 - 8 years
Junior Section - for Boys aged 8 - 11 years
Company Section - for Boys aged 11 - 15 years
Seniors - for young men aged 15 - 18 years

Click here to email Lissara Boys' Brigade

Junior BB & Robins (Circa 1967)
Third Row: - N Logue, A Gibson, D Noon, S Quinn, A Magee, A McMullan,
P Patterson, R Martin, T McNeely, M Dickson, S Mejury, R Magee
Second Row: - N Mejury, G Ferris, W Patterson, Lt. I Rea, Lt J Robinson, TJ Lennon, TT Lennon, D Rainey.
Front Row: - R McCormick, N Ellison, A Nelson, L Patterson, J Dickson, A Lennon, D McNeely, E Clements, L Coffrey, W McMillan

Boys' Brigade (circa 1967)
1^st Crossgar Company Boys Brigade (circa 1967)
Fourth Row: - R Hill, N McNeely, K Patterson, T Gibson, R Niblock, P Orr, M McNeely, K Hill, D Coffrey, A McKeown
Third Row: - D Lennon, E Filtzsimmons, G Mullin, R Adams, C Lennon, T Withers, B Gibson, R Hill, I Cochrane
Second Row: - J Niblock, W/O D Nesbitt, Rev SGM Logue (Chaplain) R Dickson (Captian), Lt D Eynon, W/O F Adams, T McMillan
Front Row: - D Orr, J Ringland, D Hill, G Niblick
The Mid-Down Group Squad-Drill Cup shown at the front of the
photograph had been won ten times in sucession by the Company

THE Original Crossgar Company Boys' Brigade (1922)
Fourth Row: - J Fitzsimons, J Cleland, H Neill, A Campbell, J Gibson, J Nelson, D Ringland
Third Row: - WJ Whyte, T, M & S Adams, B Hull, R Dickson, R Fitzsimons, E Fitzsimons, W McClurg
Second Row: - R Lightbody, S Gibson, J Gibson, S Fitzsimons; Lt J Morrison, TJ MacMillan (Captain), Mrs TJ MacMillan (Pianist), Rev. John Johnston, (Chaplain), Lt WJ Miscampbell, Lt. J Moffett, E Lightbody, F Maxwell, T Tate, J Lightbody
Front Row: - G Ringland, B Collins, J Maxwell, R Whyte, H Alldritt, W Nelson, S Parkinson

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Updated: - Monday 09 February 2009

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Office Address:

The Manse, 17 Downpatrick Road

Crossgar, DOWNPATRICK

Co. Down

BT30 9EQ