How ‘the Sally Army’ grew from a glorified shed to a purpose built Bury St Edmunds centre

Affectionally known as ‘the Sally Army’, this evangelical institution has been caring for the spiritual and earthly needs of millions of people over the years.

In 1865, William Booth (1829-1912) formed a somewhat militarist movement called the Christian Revival Association. Its favourite hymn, trumpeted out by the army’s iconic brass band, was apocryphally Onward Christian Soldiers, written in 1865 by Sabine Baring-Gould, with music by renowned composer Arthur Sullivan (Gilbert and Sullivan fame).

In 1878, William founded the Salvation Army in Whitechapel, London, with the motto ‘Through blood and fire’.

Here in Bury St Edmunds, the first ‘depot’ was on the corner of Sparhawk Street and Honey Hill in 1887, run by two sisters, Captain and Lieutenant Newton.

It soon became obvious that this ‘depot’, no better than a glorified shed (now gone), was not large enough and thoughts turned to another premises.

This was to be known as the Citadel and on October 10, 1889, five foundation stones were laid in St John’s Street, all starting with LAID TO THE GLORY OF GOD.

Commemorated on these were: WILLIAM FREELOVE, a grocer who lived at 48 Victoria Street; then someone with the initials A.J.P – who this was is unknown; then there was MAJOR CONRAN, of Ixworth – he lived at Ixworth Abbey, on the site of the former Augustinian Priory.

Sharing this foundation stone was J W DUNFORD the architect, whose tour-de-force was Walthamstow’s Central Library, in 1894.

Next in this long line of stones was to MISS BOOTH FIELD COMMISIONER and F J COXHEAD.

He came from Leyton in London and among buildings he built were Leyton Municipal offices, the Salvation Army Barracks in Tunbridge Wells and Leytonstone and the Young People’s Salvation Army Hall in Leyton, in 1931. Coxhead’s company went into liquidation in 1956.

I will come to Miss Booth in a moment, but just to finish off the other foundation stones, W JOHNSON esq OF FULBOURN and finally HENRY J. GIBSON, an outfitter, tailor and clothier of 3-5 Buttermarket.

Perhaps the most famous of all these people was this Miss Booth. Evangeline Booth was born on Christmas Day 1865, one of eight children of William and Catherine Booth.

In 1888 she was appointed to a very important post, that of field commissioner throughout Great Britain, a post she held until 1891, when her father appointed her to train cadets in London.

She became territorial commander of Canada and the USA in 1904 and eventually became an American citizen; becoming the fourth general of the army from 1934-1939. Evangelina lived in Hartsdale, a hamlet in New York state until her death, aged 85, and is buried in Kensico cemetery, near White Plains, New York.

Her oldest brother Bramwell, 1856-1929, was the second general of the army and had a daughter Catherine Bramwell-Booth, who was born on July 20, 1883.

Remarkably, at the age of 100 Catharine appeared on the Michael Parkinson television show and was a great success. She died on October 3, 1987.

So why was the Salvation Army Citadel built in this St John’s Street location?

When you survey the area the answer is obvious: employers and employees – for this was then the industrial area of the town, with railway yards, mills, coal-yards etc.

Hard working men deserved what they perceived was the right to a pint after a hard day’s graft.

Pubs littered the area: The Red Lion, Brittania, Ipswich Arms, Seven Stars, Dolphin, Royal Oak, St Edmunds Head, The King William to name a few, all within easy walking distance.

An apocryphal tale concerned the last, was when the darts team of the ‘King Billy’ was playing at home the visitor darts team declined to eat the sandwiches proffered, not because there was something wrong with them but for some of those King Billy regulars these would be the only food they had had all day.

What better place for the Sally Army to attend to the body and soul of those in nee: the poor.

Nowadays, The Salvation Army is a Protestant Christian church and an international charitable organisation with headquarters in London.

The Salvation Army charity, providing disadvantaged people the respect and access to practical, social and spiritual support they need to realise their potential.

Rattling their collecting tins is a familiar sight at Christmas-time, and why not.

Salvation Army hostels are famous for housing the homeless and over the years they have been running a service for lost relatives to make contact with each other if they so wish.

As for their Citadel, as it was known when it opened for services on March 21, 1890, costing £1,000, this has changed beyond all recognition in recent years, with a major refurbishment internally and externally.

Gone are the white painted bricks, now restored to their original look (compare the photos).

Also compare the names of the building; now called The Salvation Army Church and Community Centre, while the notice board is very important to keep people aware of what is going on.