What year was the Salvation Army founded?

The Salvation Army is a Protestant Christian denomination and an international charitable organization structured in a quasi-military fashion. The organization reports a worldwide membership of over 1.5 million, consisting of soldiers, officers and adherents known as Salvationists. Its founders Catherine and William Booth sought to bring salvation to the poor, destitute and hungry by meeting both their "physical and spiritual needs". It is present in 128 countries, running charity shops, operating shelters for the homeless, disaster relief and humanitarian aid to developing countries.

The Army was founded in 1865 in London by one-time Methodist circuit-preacher William Booth and his wife Catherine as the East London Christian Mission. In 1878 Booth reorganised the mission, becoming its first General and introducing the military structure which has been retained to the present day. The current international leader of The Salvation Army is General André Cox, who was elected by the High Council of The Salvation Army on 3 August 2013.

More Info: en.m.wikipedia.org

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53 Comments

Gloria Graham

My father was in WWI and when the Red Cross came they charged the soldiers for coffee and donuts. Salvation Army came and gave this to the soldiers. I give monthly and during Christmas I donate to every bell ringer I pass. They use the money to help not to feather their own nest

William Laughlin

mater, My aren't you a charmer. I understand many things, such as the fact that it took only a few words for you to reveal your homophobic bigotry. You should be proud of yourself that you didn't feel it necessary to hide behind a politically correct edifice that would present you as a decent human being. If you're going to be a hater, just do it like the knuckledragger you are! I certainly hope you don't call yourself a Christian, because your words would definitely belie that assertion. Your sweeping, negative judgments about large segments of society are repugnant. It tells me you either haven't got the ability or the inclination to even begin to understand those who are different from you. I'm grateful for the difference. To be as you are would be such a step down. You do decent conservatives a disservice with your glaring intolerance and ignorance.

Denise Currie

mater, You are the moron in this post and a vile one at that. Your views are disgusting and should be eliminated from this page

Denise Currie

I used to volunteer in the Salvation Army Charity shop and there was a shield on the wall saying "Founded in 1865"

Val Wilkinson

Pierre Poirier, hahaha you would do. You probably also believe that railways, telephones, tv and the internet (amongst others) were invented by Americans, along with golf and football... oh and cars (no, not Brits), tanks (oh UK again)... sorry

Val Wilkinson

Sunny Weinstein, Pierre Poirier, Mary Gini Fudge Chapman, Fern Russell, Dr-Eva Gabor, Terry Rooker, Lynn Herring Joyner, The date and the place of origin are given on their own website https://www.salvationarmy.org/ihq/our-story

Val Wilkinson

Fern Russell, oh dear, no-one likes losing ... apparently

Val Wilkinson

Ian Swindale, actually they do, and won't support those who their views don't support, like gays.

Val Wilkinson

Apparently most Americans think the Sally army is American. You are welcome to think so, it certainly works well in your country. But like most great inventions... British.