About Sailors’ Society

The British & International Sailors' Society, provides practical help and spiritual support for seafarers. It's Port Chaplains visit thousands of ships throughout the year and are often the first person to notice when all is not well on board.

The charity provides counselling when tragedy strikes and also provides a home from home in it's Seafarers' Centres and a place of rest in it's homes for retired seafarers.

The needs of seafarers are certainly no less than they were in 1818, when the Charity was established. The charity's worldwide network of Chaplains and those of it's sister organisations and carers continues to provide a vital ministry in more than 100 ports throughout the world.

BISS are almost entirely dependent upon charitable donations and without them we could not function. In recent years the charity's annual expenditure on the provision of services to the international seafaring community has increased and the indication are that to meet the demands of the years ahead it will need more funds. Your support will help us to continue caring for seafarers in need.

Our history

In 1818, March 18th, a meeting was held at the City of London Tavern, Bishopsgate Street, London, under the chairmanship of Mr Benjamin Shaw, MP when a Society was formed to minister to the religious needs of seamen.

The new Society, whose first Treasurer was, Mr Robert Humphrey Marten, was called the Port of London Society. Other societies were started in 1833, on July 3rd, another public meeting was held in the City of London Tavern, when the Rt. Hon Lord Henley presided.

The following resolution was adopted:-
"That the interests and objects of the Sailors' and Port of London and Bethel Union Societies being the same, they now be united"
A further resolution followed:-
"That this institution be called 'The British & Foreign Sailors' Society' for promoting their moral and religious improvement."
A resolution embodying the Constitution and Objects of the Society was adopted.
A Board of Directors, consisting of 45 clergymen and 28 laymen was elected - the Treasurer being Mr John Pirie and the Secretaries the Revd F A Cox, LLD and the Revd Thomas Timpson.
Among the laymen were Royal Naval and Mercantile Marine Officers, Members of Parliament and other well known people.
The British & Foreign Sailors' Society continued until 1925 when the name was changed to The British Sailors' Society. In 1995 the name was again changed to the British & International Sailors' Society and most recently in 2007 the name was changed to the Sailors’ Society. 
Today, as at its inception, the Society works in every way possible for the material, moral and spiritual welfare of seafarers in ports throughout the world.