At a meeting held in Glasgow on 5th October 1919; attended by twenty-four Catholic gentlemen; Corkman Patrick J. O'Callaghan asked those present to agree to the formation of a new organisation, which would ultimately be called the Knights of St. Columba. This proposal was agreed and a further meeting was convened. The new Order was to be modeled, as far as was practicable, on the example of the Knights of Columbus in the USA (founded by Fr. Michael J. McGivney in 1881).

As news of the organisation spread, over 100 applications for membership were received in the following weeks, with the first initiation of members taking place on the 11th November 1919.

On St. Patrick's day, 1920, the KSC held a concert in the St. Andrew's Hall, Glasgow, and as a result of this event, several hundred applications for membership were received - The Knights of St. Columba had arrived.

The first Council and the Supreme Council comprised of the same membership and the Board of Directors met on two or three evenings per week. For the first 18 months, the Order had no printed constitution and no full-time official; Ritual and Ceremonial were in a state of flux. Yet the main objectives of the fledgling Order; only practical Catholics to be accepted as members and the advancement of the social and economic status of people; received constant attention from the Order's beginnings.

When the Order was founded, there was no immediate prospect of establishing Councils outside Scotland. However, by the early 1920's the Knights of St. Columba had crossed the border to England with a foundation in Liverpool. By 1925 the Order had reached London. From that period and up to the outbreak of World War II; was the heyday of the Order with up to 200 members at a time being initiated at a ceremony. The period following the Second World War was again a time of expansion, but during the late 1950's/early 1960's, with the decline of the inner city parishes and dispersement of the Catholic population, recruitment slowed. At present there are over 8,000 members; 340 subordinate Charter Councils; 32 Provinces; around the UK, from Inverness in the North to the Isle of Wight, the Channel Islands, the Isle of Man and from Cornwall to East Anglia.

In it's early days, the Knights of St Columba had been a ritualistic Order. Early in the 1920's a degree system came into operation; with three stages to membership; a full range of ritual evolved to cover ceremonies and meetings, held in each of the three degrees. Secrecy concerning these ceremonies was demanded.

A new generation of members and changing attitudes made it evident that changes in the ritual of the Order were desirable. By 1966, a simplified form of ritual had been adopted and all elements of secrecy were eliminated. As from 1969, the second level (degree) was abolished and the two remaining simple forms of ritual are Membership (on joining the order) and Knighthood (upon later elevation).

Those men of vision, many of whom are in the photograph above, who recognised the need for an organisation to be formed; "based on strictly Catholic and democratic ideals, with safeguards to prevent any departure from Catholic principles",  were considered to be Incorporators of the Order of the Knights of St Columba. Their names are inscribed on the constitution and will forever be remembered.

A Board of Directors was chosen from these Incorporators, at the first Supreme Council in Glasgow; empowered to remain 'in office' until January 1, 1923, when they handed over the now sturdy organisation to new custodians.

John Neary, the last living Incorporator, died at the age of 86, in Glasgow on the 29th September 1967

With the phenomenal expansion of the Order in its first year, the need for a 'Knights' premises became obvious. The Subway Halls, in the Partick area of Glasgow, was acquired and volunteers set to work on making the premises suitable for 'The Knight's First Home'.

On the 29th May 1922, some two years after the birth of the Order; the Supreme Office was established at 132 West Nile Street, Glasgow. The Order's expansion and the resulting growth in administration caused the board of directors to take this decisive step. By 1927; owing to the continued progress of the order; the number of councils had reached 178; permanent headquarters were established at 54 Berkeley Street, Glasgow, where it remained until 1982.

Although the majority of the Order's members reside beyond Scottish shores and its offices have moved from its original site on two occasions; 'Supreme Office' or Head Office, as it is now more commonly known; retains its roots in Glasgow.