Born in modest circumstances William Booth became a man of great social conscience. He met his wife Catherine at a chapel in Clapham. They married in 1855. Catherine was a staunch defender of women’s rights to preach. Together William and Catherine Booth founded the Salvation Army.
William Booth’s journey began in London. He was working as a pawnbroker. He hated it but needed to support his family. He also started preaching in the streets of London. He wanted to help the poor and outcasts. Booth preached in unusual venues. He used stables and disused pubs. His wife Catherine raised funds. She collected money from the city’s wealthy.
William styled his preaching after James Caughey. Caughey was an American revivalist. Booth focused on preaching in open-air. He preached especially in slum areas. He believed eternal punishment awaited the unconverted. He wanted to redeem people from this fate. William Booth wasn’t always focused on preaching alone. He realized people needed help first. He built a social program with food kitchens and housing. He created communal organizations.
In 1865 William Booth opened the Christian Mission in East London. In 1878 he renamed it the Salvation Army. The Salvation Army spread his message. He toured the country in a motor car from Land’s End to Aberdeen in 1904.
Catherine Booth died in 1890. William Booth died in 1912. Two million people lined the streets. They viewed his funeral procession. Forty Salvation Army bands played him to rest. William Booth and Catherine are buried together. They rest in Abney Park Cemetery. It is the main London burial ground for 19th-century non-conformists.
William Booth was named among the 100 Greatest Britons in a BBC poll. He was recognized for his humanitarian aid. The Salvation Army is known for helping the needy. William Booth was made a Freeman of the City of London in 1906. He received an honorary degree from the University of Oxford. In 1885 The Salvation Army exposed the sale of young girls into prostitution. The army’s efforts helped raise the legal age of consent. It went from 13 to 16 years old. William Booth recognized the benefits of technology. He had his automobile painted white. This allowed him to preach at any time. People would see the white car and know it was him.
William Booth’s legacy continues. The Salvation Army is still helping people. William and Catherine Booth changed the world. They gave hope to the hopeless. They are remembered for their compassion and dedication. Plaques and statues honor them. These stand as lasting reminders of their work. Statues stand in the Mile End Road. They are close to the site of the first Salvation Army meeting.