Catalogue description The Regnal League

Minutes

Regnal League, Lancashire

• Lancashire

The original concept of a league or circle of young men was devised in 1913 by Donald Standfast at St. Paul's Methodist Church, Radcliffe, near Manchester, following his search to find a broader approach of presenting Christian ideals to them.

With the advent of the First World War, many leagues of fellowship emerged and, in the immediate post-war period popular demand led to the establishment of a civilian version. The term regnal was adopted at this stage in recognition of Christ as King in the lives of men.

Primarily composed of men's circles, subsequent years saw the introduction of a few women's circles and links were established with the boy's brigade and scouting movements. It was aimed to establish branches in all denominations of the Christian Church, but it seems to have been largely adopted by the Methodist Church.

The Second World War almost saw its demise, but a revival occurred in the 1950s and 1960s, when circles tended to be composed of more middle aged men. Today, however, the number of circles has dwindled considerably.

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