Catherine Charteris born Catherine Anderson (1837 – 18 November 1918) was a

British British may refer to: Peoples, culture, and language * British people, nationals or natives of the United Kingdom, British Overseas Territories and Crown Dependencies. * British national identity, the characteristics of British people and culture ...

philanthropist.

Life

She was born in 1837 in Aberdeen. Her parents were Rachel, born Johnston, and

Alexander Anderson Alexander Anderson may refer to: Arts and entertainment * Alexander Anderson (cartoonist) (1920–2010), American cartoonist, creator of "Rocky the Flying Squirrel" * Alexander Anderson (illustrator) (1775–1870), American illustrator * Alexander ...

who was the Lord Provost of Aberdeen). She was educated at home, so when her mother was too ill to serve as hostess she would step up to the role while he was Lord Provost. His work attracted

Archibald Hamilton Charteris Archibald Hamilton Charteris (13 December 1835 – 24 April 1908) was a Scottish theologian, a Moderator of the General Assembly of the Church of Scotland, professor of biblical criticism at the University of Edinburgh and a leading voice in Chur ...

who came to Aberdeen to interview her father in 1860. In 1863 she married Charteris. He would in time become a Professor at Edinburgh University. The 'Woman's Guild' was founded in 1887 by the

General Assembly of the Church of Scotland The General Assembly of the Church of Scotland is the sovereign and highest court of the Church of Scotland, and is thus the Church's governing body.''An Introduction to Practice and Procedure in the Church of Scotland'' by A. Gordon McGillivray, ...

on the initiative of her husband. Charteris acknowledged woman were already involved in Christian service but that there "was a need to develop and organize them as an official working unity within the church.""Woman's Guild" in ''Dictionary of Scottish Church History and Theology'' Wright D.F. ''et al.'' (eds) Edinburgh 1993 Another source credits Catherine Charteris's "wise counsel and loving heart" and that the guild "owes its very existence to her efforts". She became the influential editor of the ''Woman's Guild Supplement'' which she saw as creating a parliament of women. Through that publication she inspired ambition and challenged complacency among the women readers who she thought suffered from low self esteem. A key appointment was Katherine Davidson who became the Guild's first deputy in 1889. She was creditted with inspiring more branches with her infectious enthusiasm as she went to over 100 different parishes by horse and cart. Within ten years, there was 29,000 members in 400 branches. Catherine Charteris had become the Guild's first national president in 1897 and she served until 1906. It was noted that Catherine's role was overshadowed by her husband's profile. Catherine had been effectively President since much earlier. (Discrimination within the church is illustrated by the milestone in the 1930s when the first woman, Lizzie Meredith, was allowed to chair the Guild's central committee.) In 1997, following a major review, the Guild adopted its current constitution. The new constitution changed the name 'Woman's Guild' to 'Church of Scotland Guild' - and opened up groups to men as well as women.

Death and legacy

Charteris died in

Edinburgh Edinburgh is the capital city of Scotland and one of its 32 Council areas of Scotland, council areas. The city is located in southeast Scotland and is bounded to the north by the Firth of Forth and to the south by the Pentland Hills. Edinburgh ...

from burns. The guild in 2006 had about 35,000 members and was one of Scotland's largest voluntary organisations.Church of Scotland website, accessed 5 Dec 2006

References

{{DEFAULTSORT:Charteris, Catherine Scottish philanthropists 1837 births 1918 deaths 19th-century British philanthropists 19th-century British women philanthropists