Background

The Salvation Army is a Christian Church with over 1.6 million members in 109 countries.

In the UK there are over 800 Salvation Army corps (parishes), over 1,500 ordained ministers (known as "officers") and 54,000 members (including senior soldiers, adherents and junior soldiers).

Salvation Army officers and members used to wear a military-style uniform, though many now wear a more informal uniform of polo shirts. 

Salvation Army halls are registered as places of worship. Salvation Army officers are ordained ministers of religion, and can conduct weddings and funerals.

The Salvation Army is famous for its work with people who have fallen on hard times: it offers help to the elderly, the young, offenders, drug addicts and blind and disabled people; it provides food and shelter for the homeless and operates food distribution centres.

The Salvation Army was founded in 1865, in the East End of London, by William Booth, an evangelist who wanted to offer practical help to the poor and destitute, as well as preaching the Gospel to them. It was originally called the Christian Mission, but changed its name to the Salvation Army in 1878.

Mission and Social Work

In the 1880s the leaders of the Salvation Army realised that poverty hindered their mission - people struggled to think about the state of their souls if they were hungry and concerned about where the next meal was coming from. So the Army began to set up centres where people could find food and shelter. When it comes to working to help the poor and needy, members emphasise the importance of rolling up their sleeves and getting on with it.

The Army believes that behaviour and lifestyle can be another powerful weapon of conversion. They try to set an example by living in love and unity in a world of indifference and conflict and loving people who are hard to love. In this they follow the teachings of Jesus.

"I was hungry and you gave me food, I was thirsty and you gave me drink, I was a stranger and you welcomed me, I was sick and you visited me, I was naked and you clothed me, I was in prison and you came to see me"
Matthew 25:35,36

The Salvation Army has a tradition of not giving up on anyone. Members believe that however low a person has sunk, God continues to love them, and that God's grace can redeem anyone.

The Salvation Army helps believers and non-believers equally. Practical care is never offered - or refused - on the basis of belief.

The Salvation Army works to change injustice. Most recently, the Salvation Army has campaigned against the government's proposals to increase the opportunities for gambling.

Areas of social work:

• Homelessness
• Addiction
• Youth work
• Work with the elderly
• Prison work
• Disaster and emergency work
• Family tracing service

Services

Salvationists regard their whole life and being as an act of worship, but, of course, they meet regularly for worship.

Salvation Army meetings are open to anyone - you don't have to be a Salvationist or even a Christian to attend.

Meetings don't have a set order of service. They usually include plenty of songs, and there may be group or individual music items. Items by a dance or drama group may occasionally be used to help with the worship and verses from the Bible are read in every meeting.

Music has been important to the Army from its early days, when it was a powerful evangelical tool; not just to attract a crowd to hear the preacher, but as a way of helping people to experience faith in a more embracing way than words could on their own.