Ancestry UK

The Salvation Army

In 1865, William Booth founded an Evangelical Christian movement in the East End of London. Originally known as the Christian Revival Association, it was renamed in 1870 to become the East London Christian Mission, subsequently shortened to the Christian Mission. The group was reorganised and renamed in 1878 to become the Salvation Army — affectionately known as the 'Sally Ann'. The Army, with 'General' Booth at its head, adopted a military-style uniform and 'Articles of War' which included the renouncing of the use of alcohol. The Army also eschewed religious sacraments such as baptism and communion, considering them unnecessary.

William Booth, c.1909. © Peter Higginbotham.

In addition to its religious crusading, the Army gradually became involved a variety of social welfare activities. One of the earliest, in May 1884, was a women's refuge at 212 Hanbury Street, Whitechapel, opened as part of a campaign to rescue young women from prostitution. This was replaced in around August 1885 by larger premises at 48 Navarino Road, Dalston. The Army's first night shelter was opened in 1888 at West India Dock Road in Limehouse, with many more soon following. The shelters provided a warm place to sit for the night with some little refreshment for a penny. Soup and bread were also on offer at a similar cost. In 1889, a night shelter for women was opened at 194 Hanbury Street, originally at a charge of 2d. a night, later raised to 3d. after the London County Council made the provision of sheets etc. compulsory. A shelter for boys was opened at 31 Fetter Lane.

Hanbury Street Shelter dormitory, 1891. © Peter Higginbotham.

In 1895, The Nest, a home for sexually abused girls, was opened at Upper Clapton. At around the same date, the Army took over Sturge House on Bow Road, a former Barnardo's children's home. The home accommodated boys aged 14 to 18 who stayed at the home for a while, were taught and fed, and then helped to find work.

The Nest, c.1909. © Peter Higginbotham.

In around 1895, Ivy House, at 271 Mare Street, Hackney, was opened as a 25-bed maternity hospital for unmarried mothers, most of whom were between fifteen and twenty years old. The hospital catered for women both from London and elsewhere.

Ivy House, early 1900s. © Peter Higginbotham.

As well as providing immediate medical care, the Army found work in service for many young women so that they could support their child. Where possible, they were placed in households where only one servant was kept, so that they would be spared embarrassment from the others finding out their 'secret'. The Army also made efforts to locate the children's fathers, with the aim of obtaining financial support, either voluntarily or through a bastardy order.

At the end of the First World War, to help the plight of widows and their children, the Army arranged for a total of 1,769 women and 1,019 children to emigrate to new lives in Canada, Africa, Australia, and New Zealand. In the late 1920s, the Army arranged the passage of several consignments of emigrants to Australia on the Vedic. By 1938, the overall total of men, women and children settled overseas by the Emigration Department was almost 250,000.

A separate page gives a list of Salvation Army establishments that fall within the scope of this website.

Records

Note: many repositories impose a closure period of up to 100 years for records identifying individuals. Before travelling a long distance, always check that the records you want to consult will be available.

Bibliography

  • Booth, William In Darkest England, and the Way Out (1890, London: International Headquarters of the Salvation Army)
  • Sandall, Robert The History of the Salvation Army (1955, London: Nelson)