Anchor Society

Logo of the Anchor Society of Bristol, England

The Anchor Society is a charitable organization based in Bristol, England. It was founded in 1759 by 22 benefactors at a dinner held in honor of wealthy 17th-century Bristol philanthropist Edward Colston at the Three Tuns Tavern in the medieval quarter of Bristol. To perpetuate Colston's memory the first president of the society Gilbert Davies took up a collection to benefit the poor and elderly. Since then there have been annual collections coordinated by presidents who are elected to one-year terms. Today the society holds an annual dinner on Colston's birthday (November 13 or 14 in the Georgian calendar) to announce the result of an annual fund-raising drive, which takes place during the first two weeks of November and is known as the President’s personal collection. Money collected from this event is spent throughout the year on grants, befriending, housing and projects to benefit the poor and elderly. The Anchor Society is closely aligned with the Dolphin Society and the Grateful Society, both of which also help older people in the greater Bristol area. All three societies also gather in mid November to celebrate their charitable work at an annual service held in St Stephen’s Church in the center of the city.[1][2][3]

References

  1. ↑ "History of the Anchor Society". The Anchor Society Official Website. Retrieved 22 November 2017.
  2. ↑ J.W. Arrowsmith (1906). Arrowsmith's Dictionary of Bristol. Bristol. England: Published by J.W. Arrowsmith. p. 111.
  3. ↑ "Edward Colston". Victoria County History. Retrieved 22 November 2017.


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