The History of YMCA

The Y was founded in London England by 22 year-old George Williams and 11 of his friends. The Y was established as a refuge of prayer and bible study, and an escape from the hazards of life on the streets of London.

As a young man, Henry Dunant began organising prayer groups and bible studies from his home. He went on to co-found the Y of Geneva in 1852. His enthusiasm and passion to have a truly international movement led to the first ever International Conference. He would later go on to found the International Committee of the Red Cross, and win the first ever Nobel Peace Prize in 1901.

The first Y in New Zealand was formed in Auckland circa March 1855. The first annual meeting of the YMCA Auckland was held in Durham street.

The Paris Basis was adopted by the delegates of the First World Conference in Paris in 1855. "The Young Men’s Christian Associations seek to unite those young men who, regarding Jesus Christ as their God and Saviour, according to the Holy Scriptures, desire to be his disciples in their faith and in their life, and to associate their efforts for the extension of his Kingdom amongst young men. Any differences of opinion on other subjects, however important in themselves, shall not interfere with the harmonious relations of the constituent members and associates of the World Alliance."

The first world conference for the Y was held in Paris. It brought together 99 young delegates from nine countries. The Conference sparked the beginning of the Central International Committee that would eventually become the World Alliance for the Y.

The Y in Nelson was established in 1860.

In Dunedin, work started in 1861 with Bible study and prayer groups. Later the activities included public evangelistic services.

The Y in Christchurch founded as a group which met for religious fellowship, prayer and Bible study, but later included educational classes, athletics and lectures in its activities.

The Y in Wellington was established in 1866.

The Y in Invercargill was established in 1876.

The first meeting of the Y Australia and New Zealand was conducted in 1877.

The Second joint conference between Y's Australia and New Zealand was in Melbourne, where both nations adopted the Paris Basis.

The Y in Taranaki was established in 1881.

The National Council of YMCAs of Australia and New Zealand was formed. This body was affiliated to the World Alliance.

Ellen Brown became the first female employee of the Y and the first “boy’s work secretary.” She taught a night class that grew so rapidly it became a department of the Y. Of course, women served in unpaid roles in the Y movement prior to this milestone, including as volunteer teachers and fundraisers.

The first ever game of basketball is played- Invented by James Naismith, who worked for the Y International Training School in Massachusetts, USA.

George Williams was Knighted by Queen Victoria on the 50th anniversary of his founding of the Y. By the time he died in 1905, there were 45 YMCAs running all over the world with a membership of more than 700,000 people. Sir George Williams is buried in St Paul's Cathedral.

William G. Morgan, an instructor with the Y in Massachusetts, USA, invents Volleyball, as a game with less physical contact than basketball.

In 1909, Sonora Dodd attended a Mother's Day service at her church. Sonora’s mother had passed away during child birth and since then Sonora watched her father lovingly care for his six children and make sacrifices to give them all better lives. Sonora felt inspired to campaign for equal recognition of fathers, so she approached the Y and the Spokane Ministerial Alliance to establish Father's Day. The first Father's Day was celebrated on 19 June, 1910.

A new building was designed by notable Auckland architect Alexander Wiseman. Its grand scale and design reflects the importance of the Y in that period. On the corner of Kitchener Street and Wellesley Street East, the building was originally five storeys and included a gymnasium and accommodation with 88 beds. It was officially opened by the Governor of New Zealand.

Staff at the Y New Zealand worked with the armed forces since late 19th century providing social, religious and physical recreation programmes for servicemen. This travelling kitchen saw service in Boulogne. By 1917 there were 15 NZ centres in the fighting area of France, every one within range of German shells and none more than 4 miles from the frontline.

Most of the allied armies on the western front had units from the Y attached to them for recreational, educational and comfort services. They organised an accommodation club in London for New Zealand soldiers and had field services in France. "Most soldiers stayed at the Y or the New Zealand Soldiers Club. This, a soldier declared, was `the best place I struck and the cheapest. The food was splendid and the beds good. Tariff, bed eightpence; breakfast eightpence; dinner one shilling and ten pence."

In 1916, New Zealand withdrew from the joint Council and formed its own national body.

The Y member, Moina Michael, created the red flanders field poppy as a symbol of remembrance for those who served in World War I. Inspired by the famous wartime poem, Moina sold silk poppies to raise money for ex-soilders. Her campaign was so successful that the poppy has been adopted as an international symbol of remembrance.

The Chatham Cup is New Zealand's premier knockout tournament in men's association football. The first ever match was played in 1923 between Seacliff (Otago) and the Y (Wellington). Seacliff won the first match, but the Y took their revenge and won in 1925.

Henry Walter Kersley was unanimously elected to be the first President of The National Counclil of the Y in New Zealand in 1926. He was a foundation member, Director of the Wellington Association for twenty five years before he became the chairman of the National committee in 1916. This certificate was awarded in 1927 to appreciate him for his long and valued services to the Y's of New Zealand.

The World Alliance of YMCAs was awarded the Olympic cup by the International Olympic Committee. The Olympic Cup was instituted by Pierre de Coubertin in 1906 and is awarded to an institution or association with a record of merit and integrity in actively developing the Olympic Movement.

Basketball, which was invented by the Y, became an Olympic sport at the Berlin Olympics. The first Olympic tournament was held on outdoor tennis courts. USA won gold, and has continued to dominate the sport since. From 1948, Olympic basketball tournaments were played indoors.

During World War II, the Y again geared all of its efforts to helping New Zealand soldiers abroad. The Y theatres sprang up in the Pacific theatres. The National Council of the Y operated a total of 218 centres, again providing full recreation services, canteens, hostels, mobile units and cinemas. This canteen, run by the Y London, was a familiar meeting place for soldiers on leave.

John Mott was born in New York on 25 May 1865. He was a student at Cornell University, and President of the student Y.
Mott organised the World’s Student Christian Federation in 1895 and went on to organise national student movements across the world.
John Mott received the Nobel Peace Prize in 1946 for his work in establishing and strengthening international Protestant Christian student organisations that worked to promote peace.

Volleyball, another invention of the Y, became an Olympic sport. The first gold medal for the Men’s division was won by the Soviet Union. The Women’s division was won by Japan, who were hosting that year.

The National Council commenced the first Training Centre for full-time youth workers to be established in New Zealand.

The 6th World Council meeting in Kampala, Uganda, in July 1973, adopted the following declaration of principles:
1. To work for equal opportunity and justice for all.
2. To work for and maintain an environment in which relationships among people are characterised by love and understanding.
3. To work for and maintain conditions, within the Y and in society, its organisations and institutions, which allow for honesty, depth and creativity.
4. To develop and maintain leadership and programme patterns which exemplify the varieties and depth of Christian experience.
5. To work for the development of the whole person.

The World Alliance of YMCAs was founded in 1855 at its first World Conference, held in Paris. At that time, conference participants developed the Y’s first mission statement, the Paris Basis.
Since then, the Y’s mission statement has been interpreted to reflect contemporary realities, first in 1973 with the Kampala Principles, and most recently in 1998 with Challenge 21.