Our History
General William and Mrs Catherine Booth
The Salvation Army began in 1865 when William Booth, a London Methodist minister, gave up the comfort of his pulpit and decided to take his message into the streets where it would reach the poor, the homeless, the hungry and the destitute.
His original aim was to send converts to established churches of the day, but soon realized that the poor did not feel comfortable or welcome in the pews of most of the churches and chapels of Victorian England. Regular churchgoers were appalled when these shabbily dressed, unwashed people came to join them in worship.
Booth joined the East London Christian Mission that catered for the people from the slums of East London. It met in tents, theatres, dance halls and the outdoors and helped people with problems of hunger, homelessness and poverty. In 1867, Booth had only 10 full-time workers, but by 1874, the number had grown to 1,000 volunteers and 42 evangelists. Booth assumed the title of general superintendent, with his followers calling him “General”. The converts spread out of the East End of London into neighbouring areas and then to other cities.
In May of 1878, Booth summoned his son, Bramwell, and his good friend George Railton to read a proof of the Christian Mission's annual report. At the top it read: THE CHRISTIAN MISSION is A VOLUNTEER ARMY. Bramwell strongly objected to this wording. He was not a volunteer: he was compelled to do God's work. So, in a flash of inspiration, Booth crossed out "Volunteer" and wrote "Salvation". The Salvation Army was born. The name “The Salvation Army” was then adopted and these words became the basis of the foundation deed of The Salvation Army. From that point, converts became soldiers of Christ and were also known then as Salvationists. The “army” was furnished with uniforms, a flag, a brass band and martial music.
Booth and his wife and other officers of the Army endeavoured to expand the kingdom of God through the two-pillar directions of evangelical ministry and social ministry. By the 1900s, the Army had spread around the world. The Salvation Army soon had officers and soldiers in 36 countries, including the United States of America. This well-organized yet flexible structure inspired a great many much-needed services: women's and men's social work, the first food depot, the first day nursery and the first Salvation Army missionary hospital. During World War II, The Salvation Army operated 3,000 service units for the armed forces, which led to the formation of the United Service Organizations.
Today, The Salvation Army is present in 129 countries and continues to work where the need is greatest, guided by faith in God and love for all people and meeting human needs in the name of God without discrimination.
His original aim was to send converts to established churches of the day, but soon realized that the poor did not feel comfortable or welcome in the pews of most of the churches and chapels of Victorian England. Regular churchgoers were appalled when these shabbily dressed, unwashed people came to join them in worship.
Booth joined the East London Christian Mission that catered for the people from the slums of East London. It met in tents, theatres, dance halls and the outdoors and helped people with problems of hunger, homelessness and poverty. In 1867, Booth had only 10 full-time workers, but by 1874, the number had grown to 1,000 volunteers and 42 evangelists. Booth assumed the title of general superintendent, with his followers calling him “General”. The converts spread out of the East End of London into neighbouring areas and then to other cities.
In May of 1878, Booth summoned his son, Bramwell, and his good friend George Railton to read a proof of the Christian Mission's annual report. At the top it read: THE CHRISTIAN MISSION is A VOLUNTEER ARMY. Bramwell strongly objected to this wording. He was not a volunteer: he was compelled to do God's work. So, in a flash of inspiration, Booth crossed out "Volunteer" and wrote "Salvation". The Salvation Army was born. The name “The Salvation Army” was then adopted and these words became the basis of the foundation deed of The Salvation Army. From that point, converts became soldiers of Christ and were also known then as Salvationists. The “army” was furnished with uniforms, a flag, a brass band and martial music.
Booth and his wife and other officers of the Army endeavoured to expand the kingdom of God through the two-pillar directions of evangelical ministry and social ministry. By the 1900s, the Army had spread around the world. The Salvation Army soon had officers and soldiers in 36 countries, including the United States of America. This well-organized yet flexible structure inspired a great many much-needed services: women's and men's social work, the first food depot, the first day nursery and the first Salvation Army missionary hospital. During World War II, The Salvation Army operated 3,000 service units for the armed forces, which led to the formation of the United Service Organizations.
Today, The Salvation Army is present in 129 countries and continues to work where the need is greatest, guided by faith in God and love for all people and meeting human needs in the name of God without discrimination.