π΄ The Guild of Servants of the Sanctuary was founded in 1897 and is a Catholic society of altar servers in the Church of England supporting the objects of Forward in Faith. It seeks to deepen the spiritual life of its members and help them to become more worthy of their important office. The objects of the Guild are:
Β· To raise the spiritual tone of Altar Servers
Β· To promote a conscientious performance of the duties of Altar Servers.
Β· To encourage a more frequent attendance at the Holy Eucharist in addition to times of duty.
Membership is open to any lay person who is an altar server in the Church of England and 'accepts Catholic Faith and Practice'. Bishops, Priests and Deacons are welcomed as Associate Members and non-servers as Supporter Members.
The Guild is organised into local chapters, each overseen by a secretary, who is a member of the Guild, and a chaplain, who is a priest and thus a 'priest associate' of the Guild. Chapters meet regularly: a typical gathering takes the form of the 'Guild Office': this consists largely of Psalms and Canticles, culminating in the Magnificat and a short Bible reading. The Guild Office will often be followed by a short address and perhaps Benediction. When undertaking Guild activities, members dress in choir habit: typically a black cassock with a white surplice or cotta, but sometimes a white or coloured cassock-alb according to local usage. Members also wear a special 'Guild Medal' engraved with the Latin text, Introibo ad Altare Dei (I will go unto the altar of God, Psalm 43.4).
Guild website: http://guild-of-servers-of-sanctuary.weebly.com/
The Chapter of Ss Osmund and Swithun, Bournemouth
The Bournemouth Chapter was formed at St Luke's Church, Winton, with the amalgamation of two Guilds and is dedicated to the patron saints of the dioceses of Salisbury and Winchester, respectively. Together with the Chapter of the Holy Cross, Chard, it forms Provincial Group 7 which covers Dorset, West Hampshire and East Somerset. The Chapter banner passed from St Luke's to St Francis, Charminster, and thence to St Ambrose, Westbourne, with the Chapter Secretary, Councillor Alan Scott, who also oversees Provincial Group 7.
Chapter Facebook page: https://www.facebook.com/GSSBournemouth
For more details of Chapter activities contact the Secretary, Alan Scott: Tel. 01202 531609 or email: [email protected]
PROGRAMME for 2026
Tuesday, 20th January, 2026 at 6:30 p.m.
Guild Office & Benediction
at St Thomas More's (RC) Church, Iford, Bournemouth (Week of Prayer for Christian Unity)
Officiants: Fr Benjamin Weitzmann (Portsmouth) and Fr Darryl Jordan (Iford)
10th March, 2026 at 7:00 p.m.
Stations of the Cross and AGM
St Katharine's Church, Church Road, Southbourne, Bournemouth, BH6 4AR.
Tuesday, 21st April, 2026 at 7:00 p.m.
Confirmation and Eucharist β jointly with CBS
Principal Celebrant: The Right Revd Luke Irvine-Capel, SSC, Bishop of Richborough
followed by refreshments
St Ambrose Church, Bournemouth
Date t.b.a. in May, 2026 at 11:00 a.m.
Festival for the Catholic Societies (SSC, GSS, CBS, Society of Mary, etc.)
including Mass, Lunch, Benediction, and Tea
St Ambrose Church, Bournemouth
Saturday, 5th September, 2026
The Glastonbury Pilgrimage
Glastonbury Abbey, Magdalene Street, Glastonbury, Somerset, BA6 9EL.
A coach will be running from St Ambrose Church.
Volunteers to carry banners, thuribles, candles, etc., in the robed procession will be welcome.
The Guild Collect
Grant, we beseech Thee, Almighty God,
to us Thy servants, the spirit of holy fear:
that we, following the example of Thy holy child Samuel,
may faithfully minister before Thee in Thy Sanctuary;
through Jesus Christ Thy Son our Lord,
Who liveth and reigneth with Thee in the unity of the Holy Ghost,
ever One God, world without end. Amen.