William Booth
On the 20 August this year (2012) it was 100 years since the death of William Booth, at the age of 83 years, the founder of the Salvation Army. The story of his life’s work and thirst for social justice can be viewed at the William Booth Birthplace Museum in Nottingham, and on a DVD entitled William Booth: A Passion For The Poor. As an evangelist he travelled thousands of miles worldwide and raised up a Salvation Army at work in 58 countries and had influenced millions for Christ. On the 29th August 1912 London came to a standstill, the day having been designated a half holiday for the five mile funeral march to Abney Park Cemetery, the horse-drawn carriage being followed by 40 bands and a seemingly endless procession of Salvationists watched by more than two million people.
1880 Mansfield Corps Formed
On the 1st May 1880 the Mansfield Corps of the Salvation Army was formed and services were held in a temporary hall over a garage. A band was formed in 1882. A quotation from the Corps History Book says that “in 1909 there was a visit by the General (William Booth) on August Bank Holiday morning in the Grand Theatre, lent free. The General was supported by His Worship the Mayor and the whole Corporation. His Grace the Duke of Portland presided. Theatre packed, income over £60. The General excelled himself and made a great impression.”
The History Book states that “in 1921 authorities considered the hall was no longer safe to use for public gatherings, and in a matter of days many friends came to help out. The YMCA loaned their hall for Sunday morning meetings and Sunday School which at that time numbered some 500 children. The Methodists at Clerkson Street School loaned their Hall for Sunday night meetings. Other friends placed halls at their disposal for weekly activities, all without charge. Land was secured from Mansfield Borough Council in Belvedere Street and Mansfield Colliery donated bricks. Two old Army huts were purchased from Clipstone Camp, all necessary stones for the foundations were dug out of the site from old cottages previously occupied, with sand found at a lower level. And so the work for a new Hall began with the labouring work carried out by members of the Salvation Army and other friends during a 14 week coal strike.
1921 New Hall
On the 5th November 1921 the new Hall was declared open by a Mrs. Houfton who had given the first donation towards the building along with much interest and encouragement. She was 93 yrs of age at the time.”
1930’s Onwards
In 1948 plans were afoot to purchase the Methodist Chapel, a much bigger building in Victoria Street and so began many fundraising activities towards the new building fund. On the 21st July 1951, thirty years after the previous hall was opened, the new citadel was officially opened by Mr. H. Bernard Taylor, member of parliament for Mansfield and supported by the mayor Councillor G Abbott and his wife.
In the community
Over the years the band has played a big part in the community. On Sunday mornings the members walked to various street locations to hold open-air services and on Sunday evenings they held a service on the Mansfield market place which was always very well attended. Then they marched back to the citadel for their own service.
1950 Band Broadcast
On the 3rd October 1950 the band broadcast for the radio from the Mansfield Museum lecture hall.
2012
In this year of 2012 the Salvation Army is officially recognised as working in 126 countries, also being on the front line of the war zones. Mansfield Salvation Army Corps continues to be a church with a mission of a Heart to God and a Hand to Man serving the community, putting into action the vision that William Booth had all those years ago.
R & S Blythe
Comments about this page
My father Sam Riggs transferred from Kirkcaldy Sinclairton in 1963. My brother, also Sam, were taught to play the cornet by Mr Bardon.
i have just been looking at the comments re Mansfield S A. All of my growing up years were in Mansfield , many happy days through Sunday School and then the senior corps. Lovely to look back and remember the people that had such an influence on my life. Left the corps to move with work , now after a few years in Cambridgshire am in Derby Central. Still a Salvationist , I greatly value my early years , a hello to all who remember me ! Nina Stone. (nee Rose)
Three generations of Jepson on these photographs. My grandad Harry, my dad “Jack” who was bandmaster in the 1950 photo, & myself also in that photo seated just to the left of the microphone aged 15. The bandmaster in the other photos is Tom Attewell, a good solo cornet player. Great days. Hundreds used to go along to the market place on the Sunday evening open air meeting.
Mike, I think the person you are referring to may be Stuart Rose. His family were Salvationists and he had a sister called Nina. He still lives locally.
The photos and comments are excellent and as always do stir memories. I think there is not one person who lived in the area of Mansfield we did, who has not had a connection with the Salvation Army in one way or another. I can recall going down to Sunday School at the little hut next to the Citadel. I cannot recall to many people who were in Sunday School, that would be in the early 50s and again in around 1959-1961. There was the trips to the seaside and of course the Christmas party, I remember getting a book Peter Puffin. The last time I was in the Citadel was for my Grandma Price’s funeral many many years back, she was a Sally Ann lady as well.
A classmate in 2Br at High Oakham played the cornet with the Band, I presume that would be a junior band as he would have been around 11-12, his last name is Rose, but cannot be sure of his first name.
Either way the Salvation Army is an indelible mark in the history of Mansfield, especially Moor Street, Victoria and Princes Street region. Cheers …. Mike
My father always used to give generously to the Salvation Army on account of the fact they were the only organisation that waited for the last returnee’s from Dunkirk. He had to fight his way round the coast and was one of the last to be evacuated, on his return most other organisations like the Red Cross, NAFFI and WVS had packed up shop but the Salvation Army stayed till the end and he greatly appreciated the cup of tea he got from them.
The good old “Sally Ann” gone it seems are the days when after the seafood salesman in the Ex servicemen’s clubs years ago, along came a gentleman in a cap, or a lady in a bonnet selling the “War cry” etc. My late father having originated from Langwith and Shirebrook,where to this day a strong “Army” presence is still in evidence, was a former serviceman,who had done his time in the middle east and Egypt. He always said that no matter where you embarked/disembarked anywhere in the world, the SA was waiting for you with a welcome mug of tea. Like so many things, many people hold in some regard, it is usually with a good reason.
What a lovely page of history in Mansfield this is. In my pre-teenage days, I too used to attend the Salvation Army Sunday afternoon service when the citadel was on Belvedere Street. In those days one was expected to attend church on a Sunday. I think it would be fair to say the strictness of ones parents in those days, we were made to go! I can remember the Salvation Army moving up the road to the new citadel on the land between Victoria Street and Princess Street. Across the road from Platt’s Post Office, and the old Co-op Dairy to the railway side.To be honest, I thought the new building was opened a little before 1948, I was a lot younger when I received a Christmas present for attendance. Maybe I am wrong ?
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