Celebrating the Salvation Army

The Salvation Army will celebrate the 134th anniversary of the opening of its ministry in Leamington at the end of the month.

The event will take the form of a special morning service on Sunday April 28 and organisers are eager to hear from locals with previous involvement in the group’s work.

Some parts of the Salvation Army’s local history are unclear and they are particularly interested to know which building, if any, the corps used between the years 1979 and 1985. There are many people in the Leamington area who have had previous contact or involvement with the Salvation Army through friends and relatives, and organisers hope this anniversary will be a perfect 
opportunity for them to celebrate the chapter’s achievements and help rebuild its history.

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The Salvation Army has deep roots in Leamington. The organisation first opened its doors on April 6 1879, months after changing its name from the original East London Christian Mission.

Five years later, they were established in the community and purchased the Royal Oak Inn in Park Street (pictured), reopening the building in 1885. A swift transformation saw the adjacent brewing houses and stables demolished and become Salvation Army “barracks” (pictured), designed by architect Edmund Sherwood.

A rare photograph taken in 1889 shows early Leamington Salvationists, including Corps Officer William “Black Prince” Bennett (seated on the front row).

Some believe that Salvation Army founder William Booth gave Bennett the name because his dark hair resembled that of Edward the Black Prince, a 14th Century Prince of Wales.

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The past century has seen the former-Christian Mission transform into one of the world’s most famous charitable organisations. The Salvation Army currently boasts 15,765 chapters across 124 countries and continues to grow.

The Salvation Army wonders if any Courier and Weekly News readers have photographs or other information about their early work or its personnel. If you can help, call the Leamington Spa Corps on 883 309 or alternatively visit their ministry at 1A Chapel Street, Harbury.