Brigade Council
As Smith realised the potential of the movement he had begun, he called a meeting of those involved in the two existing companies, on 26 January 1885, when the meeting agreed to designate itself as the ‘Council of The Boys’ Brigade’. A constitution was drawn up and it was confirmed that a company requesting registration required to be connected to a church or other religious body. Thereafter, the Brigade advanced dramatically and by the time the newly formed Council had held its first annual meeting on 12 October 1885, fifteen companies had been enrolled, twelve in Glasgow and three in Edinburgh.
Since 1885, Brigade council has been held annually as part of a council weekend of fellowship, meetings and workshops. Traditionally the council weekend was hosted by a Battalion, with all the arrangements and entertainment being undertaken by the host Battalion. 2015 was the last weekend event to be hosted by a Battalion, and since then it has been organised by Headquarters. The 2015 weekend was also the first time that it was know as Brigade Conference, with the council meeting forming part of the Conference weekend.
On average only 11% of Companies are represented at the meeting, whilst the three meetings with the highest attendance have all been held in Glasgow and formed part of significant celebrations.
1933 – 3410 Officers
1954 – 1453 Officers
1983 – 3678 Officers
The Council meeting was cancelled during both of the World Wars, and was held virtually in 2020 and 2021 due to the Coronavirus Pandemic.
Council Timeline
![Brigade Council 1896 Liverpool](https://www.thebbmuseum.org/wp-content/uploads/2021/06/P6120-Brigade-Council-1896-Liverpool-1024x419.jpg)
2021
Virtual
Virtual
2020
2019
![The Boys' Brigade Conference](https://www.thebbmuseum.org/wp-content/uploads/2021/06/BB-1535.png)
Swansea
![Brigade Conference 2018 Edinburgh](https://www.thebbmuseum.org/wp-content/uploads/2021/06/BB-1533.png)
Edinburgh
2018
2017
![](https://www.thebbmuseum.org/wp-content/uploads/2021/06/BB-1528.png)
Manchester
![](https://www.thebbmuseum.org/wp-content/uploads/2021/06/BB-1513.png)
Belfast
2016
2015
![](https://www.thebbmuseum.org/wp-content/uploads/2021/06/BB-0692.png)
Wolverhampton
![](https://www.thebbmuseum.org/wp-content/uploads/2021/06/BB-0691.png)
Glasgow
2014
2013
![](https://www.thebbmuseum.org/wp-content/uploads/2021/06/BB-0677.png)
Belfast
![](https://www.thebbmuseum.org/wp-content/uploads/2021/06/BB-0676.png)
London
2012
2011
![](https://www.thebbmuseum.org/wp-content/uploads/2021/06/BB-0675.1.png)
Cardiff
![](https://www.thebbmuseum.org/wp-content/uploads/2021/06/BB-0674.png)
Armagh
2010
2009
![](https://www.thebbmuseum.org/wp-content/uploads/2021/06/BB-0673.2.png)
Dublin
![](https://www.thebbmuseum.org/wp-content/uploads/2021/06/BB-0672.png)
Tulliallan
2008
2007
![](https://www.thebbmuseum.org/wp-content/uploads/2021/06/BB-0671.png)
Bradford
![](https://www.thebbmuseum.org/wp-content/uploads/2021/06/BB-0670.png)
Cardiff
2006
2005
![](https://www.thebbmuseum.org/wp-content/uploads/2021/06/BB-0240.png)
Londonderry
![Brigade Council 2004 Leicester](https://www.thebbmuseum.org/wp-content/uploads/2021/06/BB-0239.png)
Leicester
2004
2003
![Brigade Council 2003](https://www.thebbmuseum.org/wp-content/uploads/2021/06/BB-0238.png)
Tulliallan
![Brigade Council Birmingham 2002](https://www.thebbmuseum.org/wp-content/uploads/2021/06/BB-0237.png)
Birmingham
2002
2001
![Brigade Council 2001](https://www.thebbmuseum.org/wp-content/uploads/2021/06/BB-0236.png)
Northampton
![](https://www.thebbmuseum.org/wp-content/uploads/2021/06/BB-0235.png)
Brighton & Hove
2000
1999
![](https://www.thebbmuseum.org/wp-content/uploads/2021/06/BB-0234.png)
Dundee
![](https://www.thebbmuseum.org/wp-content/uploads/2021/06/BB-0233.png)
West Kent
1998
1997
![](https://www.thebbmuseum.org/wp-content/uploads/2021/06/BB-0232.png)
Newcastle County Down
Plymouth
1996
1995
![](https://www.thebbmuseum.org/wp-content/uploads/2021/06/BB-0231.png)
Inverness
Manchester
1994
1993
![](https://www.thebbmuseum.org/wp-content/uploads/2021/06/BB-0230.png)
Southampton
Nottingham
1992
1991
Durham
![](https://www.thebbmuseum.org/wp-content/uploads/2021/06/BB-1510.png)
Colchester
1990
1989
Paisley
![](https://www.thebbmuseum.org/wp-content/uploads/2021/06/BB-1514.png)
Belfast
1988
1987
Swansea
![](https://www.thebbmuseum.org/wp-content/uploads/2021/06/BB-0689.png)
Edinburgh
1986
1985
![](https://www.thebbmuseum.org/wp-content/uploads/2021/06/BB-0229.png)
Birmingham
![](https://www.thebbmuseum.org/wp-content/uploads/2021/06/BB-0687.png)
Southport
1984
1983
![](https://www.thebbmuseum.org/wp-content/uploads/2021/06/BB-0228.png)
Glasgow
Keele
1982
1981
![](https://www.thebbmuseum.org/wp-content/uploads/2021/06/BB-1527-a.png)
York
![Brigade Council 1980](https://www.thebbmuseum.org/wp-content/uploads/2021/06/BB-1526.2.png)
Canterbury
1980
1979
![](https://www.thebbmuseum.org/wp-content/uploads/2021/06/BB-686.png)
Dundee
Cardiff
![Brigade Council Cardiff](https://www.thebbmuseum.org/wp-content/uploads/2021/06/BB-685-e1624898061698.png)
Cardiff
1978
1977
![](https://www.thebbmuseum.org/wp-content/uploads/2021/06/BB-0227.png)
Manchester
![](https://www.thebbmuseum.org/wp-content/uploads/2021/06/BB-0226.png)
Aberdeen
1976
1975
![](https://www.thebbmuseum.org/wp-content/uploads/2021/06/BB-0225.png)
Brighton
![](https://www.thebbmuseum.org/wp-content/uploads/2021/09/BB-0224.png)
Sheffield
1974
1973
![Brigade Council London 1973](https://www.thebbmuseum.org/wp-content/uploads/2021/06/BB-0684.png)
London
Nottingham
1972
1971
Newcastle-upon-Tyne
Ayr
1970
1969
![](https://www.thebbmuseum.org/wp-content/uploads/2021/06/BB-1519-2.png)
Liverpool
![](https://www.thebbmuseum.org/wp-content/uploads/2021/06/BB-0223.png)
Belfast
1968
1967
![](https://www.thebbmuseum.org/wp-content/uploads/2021/06/BB-1520-a.png)
Birmingham
![](https://www.thebbmuseum.org/wp-content/uploads/2021/06/BB-1509.png)
Edinburgh
1966
1965
![](https://www.thebbmuseum.org/wp-content/uploads/2021/06/BB-1508.png)
Southampton
Cambridge
1964
1963
St Andrews
![](https://www.thebbmuseum.org/wp-content/uploads/2021/06/BB-0693.png)
Dublin
1962
1961
![](https://www.thebbmuseum.org/wp-content/uploads/2021/06/BB-0681.png)
Cardiff
![](https://www.thebbmuseum.org/wp-content/uploads/2021/06/BB-0680.png)
Leeds
1960
1959
![](https://www.thebbmuseum.org/wp-content/uploads/2021/06/BB-0679.png)
London
![](https://www.thebbmuseum.org/wp-content/uploads/2021/06/BB-0222.png)
Aberdeen
1958
1957
![](https://www.thebbmuseum.org/wp-content/uploads/2021/06/BB-0678.png)
Nottingham
![](https://www.thebbmuseum.org/wp-content/uploads/2021/06/BB-0669.png)
Newcastle-upon-Tyne
1956
1955
![](https://www.thebbmuseum.org/wp-content/uploads/2021/06/BB-0668.png)
Bristol
![](https://www.thebbmuseum.org/wp-content/uploads/2021/05/BB-0221-1.png)
Glasgow
1954
1953
![](https://www.thebbmuseum.org/wp-content/uploads/2021/06/BB-0667.png)
Liverpool
![Brigade Council Oxford 1952](https://www.thebbmuseum.org/wp-content/uploads/2021/06/BB-1507-combined.png)
Oxford
1952
1951
![](https://www.thebbmuseum.org/wp-content/uploads/2021/06/BB-0220.png)
St Andrews
![](https://www.thebbmuseum.org/wp-content/uploads/2021/06/BB-0219.02.png)
Brighton & Hove
1950
1949
![](https://www.thebbmuseum.org/wp-content/uploads/2021/06/BB-0218.png)
Birmingham
![](https://www.thebbmuseum.org/wp-content/uploads/2021/05/BB-0217-1.png)
Belfast
1948
1947
![](https://www.thebbmuseum.org/wp-content/uploads/2021/06/BB-1506.png)
Nottingham
Edinburgh
1946
1941
London
Cancelled
1940
1939
![](https://www.thebbmuseum.org/wp-content/uploads/2021/06/BB-1524.png)
Durham - Cancelled
![](https://www.thebbmuseum.org/wp-content/uploads/2021/06/BB-0216.png)
Dunoon
1938
1937
![](https://www.thebbmuseum.org/wp-content/uploads/2021/06/BB-1521.png)
Cambridge
Leeds
1936
1935
![](https://www.thebbmuseum.org/wp-content/uploads/2021/06/BB-0666.png)
Bournemouth
![](https://www.thebbmuseum.org/wp-content/uploads/2021/06/BB-0665.png)
Oxford
1934
1933
![](https://www.thebbmuseum.org/wp-content/uploads/2021/06/BB-0215.1.png)
Glasgow
![](https://www.thebbmuseum.org/wp-content/uploads/2021/06/BB-0664.png)
Manchester
1932
1931
Edinburgh
![](https://www.thebbmuseum.org/wp-content/uploads/2024/04/Council-1930-Liverpool-r.png)
Liverpool
1930
1929
![](https://www.thebbmuseum.org/wp-content/uploads/2021/06/BB-0663.2.png)
Belfast
![](https://www.thebbmuseum.org/wp-content/uploads/2021/06/BB-0662-joined.png)
Aberdeen
1928
1927
Birmingham
![](https://www.thebbmuseum.org/wp-content/uploads/2021/06/BB-0214.png)
Brighton
1926
1925
![](https://www.thebbmuseum.org/wp-content/uploads/2021/06/BB-0213.png)
Dublin
Bristol
1924
1923
Newcastle-upon-Tyne
Swanwick
1922
1921
Dundee
Nottingham
1920
1919
Cardiff
Birmingham
1918
1917
Manchester
Glasgow
1916
1915
Sheffield
Cancelled
1914
1913
Liverpool
Birmingham
1912
1911
Plymouth
Brighton
1910
1909
![](https://www.thebbmuseum.org/wp-content/uploads/2021/06/BB-0212.png)
Dublin
1908
1907
1906
1905
![](https://www.thebbmuseum.org/wp-content/uploads/2021/06/BB-0211.png)