The Junior Guild

The Junior Guild is a social and fellowship organization that makes contributions to charities, individuals in need, and the Cathedral.

The Junior Guild was founded in 1920, by Dean Beekman and his wife, to offer a place of service to the women of the American community in Paris. Why “Junior”? Because it is junior to the Altar Guild, the first place of service for women in the church in the early 20th century.

Soon after its founding in November of 1920, the Junior Mission Work Guild (shortened to the Junior Guild) started helping the many Russian refugees who had fled, often without passports, to France during the Russian revolution. Families were assisted and the children enrolled in schools. Contact with the Russian community lasted until long after the Second World War, with two Cathedral secretaries coming from Russia—in fact, from the Imperial family.

The members of the Junior Guild continued their good works through the 1920s, but also had fun. Their Theatrical Entertainments, Gala Dinners, and Junior Guild Follies parties hosted at places like the Hotel Majestic and Le Pré Catelan became regular features of the social calendars of prosperous Americans in Paris.

Today the Junior Guild, with support of members from both the Cathedral and the greater Paris community, holds monthly luncheons and annual fundraising events.

For more information and to get involved, contact thejuniorguild.paris@gmail.com