Wasn’t it right here in Glasgow that The Salvation Army first took root in Scotland? In March 1879, two “Hallelujah Lasses” arrived in Glasgow. They began evangelistic work at the Victoria Music Hall in Anderston. Their early days were marked by considerable opposition. Police protection was needed at every meeting.
Within six months, things changed. The Salvationist magazine reported a “glorious success”. A second station opened in Bridgeton. This time, police were needed to hold back the crowds wanting to get in.
Over the next five years, The Salvation Army expanded rapidly. Corps were opened in every Scottish city and many towns. The focus was always on reaching the most deprived areas. The Salvation Army’s work wasn’t just spiritual. They also started the first Salvation Army rescue home in Glasgow on May 25, 1883.
From 1917 until 1991, Scotland was a separate Salvation Army Territory. From 1936 to 1958, it was linked to Northern Ireland and the Republic of Ireland. Two leaders of The Salvation Army in Scotland went on to become Generals of the worldwide Salvation Army. These were Albert Orsborn and Eva Burrows. Since 1991, Scotland has been part of the United Kingdom and Ireland Territory.
Early Salvation Army halls weren’t just places of worship. They were hubs of activity. The Salvation Army rescue homes offered more than just refuge. They incorporated economics into their moral reform programme. Residents undertook work while in the homes. This was a form of therapy and contributed towards their rehabilitation. It ensured the residents could earn an income.
The women were busily employed in various ways. This included sewing, machining, and washing. In Glasgow, sewing and knitting were undertaken under a competent overseer. Wherever suitable opportunity offers, the girls went out charing and scrubbing.
Needlework was good for giving the mind constant employment. It was so much better than laundry work, which is the usual resort because it gives more opportunities for getting to know and influence the women. Washing work is so hard it goes on and on. The aim was to make the Homes really homelike to the women.
The Salvation Army press is filled with descriptions of communal singing, reading and praying. They all contributed to the restorative moral environment of the rescue home workrooms.
Enterprise and innovation were encouraged in every branch of the work. By 1887, rescue home residents were practicing needlecrafts as diverse as sewing, knitting, crochet, embroidery, straw weaving and bookbinding. Officers were alert to opportunities for improving the productivity of their workrooms and thereby their income.
In July 1902, a full-page cartoon in the Salvation Army’s monthly rescue work magazine posed the question \u2018Is Love’s Labour Lost?\u2019.
The two most remunerative rescue work industries knitting and bookbinding were removed from rescue home settings where they benefited from the unpaid labour of women on the rescue programme.
The decision to focus on manufacturing as the preferred form of work in the rescue homes required finding ways of selling the goods that were being produced. Initially, rescue officers looked inwards, aiming to sell the homes’ products to Salvationists.
The Salvation Army embraced an outdated retail method reliant on local personal networks and continued to find spiritual and financial value in it well into the 20th century.
Today, The Salvation Army continues its work in Glasgow. It offers a place of worship and a range of community services. The modern building on Houldsworth Street includes a cafe, a large open plan hall and prayer space. It stands as a testament to the enduring legacy of The Salvation Army in Scotland. From humble beginnings to a vital community presence, the Army’s story is one of faith, resilience, and unwavering dedication to serving others.