The Salvation Army: More Than a Goodwill Store

Jun 23, 2011
Heather Allan

William Booth, Founder of The Salvation Army - The Salvation Army International

You've probably heard of The Sally Ann Thrift stores, but were you aware they are also a thriving church and innovator of many Canadian social services?

The Salvation Army is primarily a church that believes in the life, death and resurrection of Jesus Christ as a Saviour, the guidance of God and a love for all people. There is little splendour typical in the grandiose nature of cathedrals and more traditional churches at ‘The Hall’. The structure of the church is based on the military with the congregation (the Corp) consisting of soldiers of God. The ministers’ rank can vary, but these Officers are titled respectively, Majors, Captains, Lieutenants, etc. Church services are called ‘meetings’ to get away from the formality that worship services entails. It is also one of the world’s largest social services and relief agencies. It developed this role due to one of the fundamental beliefs of Christianity: Love thy neighbour.

The History of The Salvation Army Church

Beginning in 1865, William Booth, a Methodist minister from London, England decided to drastically change the face of the church; he took The Word onto the streets where the poor, destitute, homeless and hungry could benefit from the teachings of Jesus Christ.

Originally, his purpose was to convert these “street people” and steer them towards the churches’ open doors. However, he soon realized the poor felt unwelcome in a traditional church setting; the masses snubbed these unwashed people trying to join them for services.

Mr. Booth began a church specifically for folks such as these, The East London Christian Mission. By May of 1878, a proof of the annual report was strongly opposed by Booth’s son, Bramwell. The heading read: THE CHRISTIAN MISSION IS A VOLUNTEER ARMY. “I am not a volunteer. I am compelled to do God’s work,” said Bramwell. Booth crossed out the word “Volunteer” and replaced it with “Salvation”. The Salvation Army began. Named thus to reflect the increasingly military structure the movement had adopted.

By the 1900s, the Army had gone global. They were now in 36 countries. The flexible structure of the church inspired many new services: women's social work, the first food depot, the first day nursery and the first Salvation Army missionary hospital. During World War II, The Salvation Army ran 3,000 service units for the armed forces, which led to the formation of the USO. Today, The Salvation Army is in over 106 countries around the world,

The 'Sally Ann' in Canada

In January of 1882, the Salvation Army began their first open-air meetings in Toronto, Ontario and shortly after, London, Ontario. Led by previous members of the British Army services, immigrants began operations in earnest that July when Major Thomas Moore took over from U.S. headquarters. At this time there was eleven corps.

The Salvation Army in Canada also adopted the founder’s philosophy that there is no point preaching ‘salvation’ to hungry people. And so the concept of ‘soup and salvation’ began When the Army came to Canada, there was much opposition in the early days, and Salvationists were often beaten and jailed for their activities in the streets of Canada’s cities and towns.

Social Work

In 1890, a Prison Gate Home was begun in Toronto and a Children’s Shelter was opened.
The first Maternity home was opened in Saint John, N.B. in 1898, today known as the Salvation Army Grace Hospitals collectively.
In 1901 The Salvation Army saw the need for a prisoner probation system and recommended to the federal government that it be adopted beginning Canada’s first parole program.
In 1908 salvage work began in Toronto, leading to the well-known Thrift Stores.
In 1911 the first Juvenile Detention Centre was turned over to the Army to operate and a farm colony was established in Coombs, B.C.
In 1909, parliament gave the Army legal standing.
1903, a training college was opened in Toronto allowing Canadians to attain leadership within the church to take more leadership responsibility.
In 1926, Eventide Home, the first seniors’ residence was built in Edmonton, Alberta and Grace Hospitals (homes for unwed mothers) began in major cities cross-country.
Post war – anti-suicide bureau and victim witness assistance programs (now absorbed by the criminal justice system) were developed.
Today: The Salvation Army is the largest non-government direct provider of social services, giving support to people in 400 communities across Canada alone. Tending to children and families’ basic needs of life, shelter for the homeless and addiction rehabilitation.

The World Wars

During World War One, The Salvation Army was able to demonstrate their ability as chaplains to respond to urgent needs, ingenuity, efficient use of resources and a genius for improvisation, which the military-like structure fostered at greater efficiency and less cost than almost any other agency.

During World War II the Army accompanied armed forces overseas as the operators of Maple Leaf Clubs, providing R&R for the troops. Their work boasted Canadian cooking, mail forwarding and social activities like dances and accommodations. By 1945, there were clubs in Britain, France, Germany, Belgium, Holland and India, staffed by Army Auxiliaries. Back home, Salvationists at Canadian ports welcomed the ‘war brides’ of Canadian servicemen.

Post war, as the cultural makeup of the country changed, so did the Army. Salvationists worship in 11 languages and provide services in many others.

Today there are:

915 active officers (clergy)
more than 23,000 soldiers (church members)
approx. 48,000 adherents (people who claim the Army as their church but are not formal members)
There are 311 corps (churches)
more than 330 social-service institutions of various kinds.
Many thousands of volunteers
About 9,000 people are employed by The Salvation Army in the Canada and Bermuda Territory.
Fifty-five Canadian officers and lay staff also serve overseas in countries from Papua New Guinea to South Africa.