Extract from the St Peter's Guild Bi-Centenary (1794-1994) Souvenir

General Object of the Guild

1st The Greater Glory of God, in the advancement of Religion and the spiritual welfare of its members.

2nd The relief of the sick.

3rd The burial of the dead.

The Guild Prayer
We beseech Thee, O Lord that the brothers of the Holy Guild may be assisted by the merits of St. Joseph the spouse of The Holy Mother, and by those of St. Peter, and what of ourselves we cannot obtain, may be given to us by their intercession through Jesus Christ, Our Lord. Amen.
Let us Pray
Grant we beseech Thee, O Almighty God, that the brothers and sisters of the Holy Guild who rejoice in the name and under the patronage of the Blessed Virgin Mary, may through Her pious Intercession, be delivered from all evils during this life and deserve to partake of everlasting happiness through Jesus Christ, Our Lord. Amen.
St. Peter – Pray for us.

St. Peter's Guild is well known for the annual club day for it used to possess attractions for both juvenile and adult residents alike and is one of the oldest of institutions, having begun in 1794, a month or two after the establishment of Stonyhurst College. This we learn, though not in the clearest of fashions, from a document of the club, as follows:-

 

"Society of Good Fellowship, or Friendly Society, called the Roman Catholic Society, at Stonyhurst. Begun the 1st day of January 1798,as Corrected, Amended, Made and approved by the members of the said Society in November 1794.* Allowed and approved at the General Quarter Sessions of the Peace e, at Preston, 12th July, 1798."

*Changes were introduced in 1798. Pursuant to an Act of Parliament, made "for the encouragement and relief of Friendly Societies" to constitute a fresh "beginning" and prior to 1794 the institution existed in a more rudimentary form.