by Irene Stead
In 1880, just two years after the Christian Mission had been renamed the Salvation Army, William Booth sent two young dedicated officers, Captain and Mrs Wilson to "open fire" in Grimsby. Despite many drawbacks, the Army flourished and began to make its mark on what was predominantly a poor district of a poor town. The welcoming hand of Jesus was needed. Drunkenness was rife; child and wife neglect and poverty were all very much the normal state of affairs. Records reveal that the Army gradually overcame many of these obstacles. The first meetings in the town were held out in the open air, in the streets, on the quayside, or inside at either the Ragged School, which was in Albert Street, and in the very ornate, Grecian style, Temperance Hall. This building with it's own Dock tower and four dials was situated in Cleethorpes Road on the same plot that our Grimsby Telegraph Offices now occupy. It boasted two lecture halls, a small one which was on the ground floor, and had a platform measuring a mere 50 x 36 foot, whilst upstairs on the first floor, was the larger, grander hall with a platform that measured 60 x 37 foot! Although we do not know in which of these halls the very first indoor Salvation Army meeting was held in Grimsby, there can be no doubt that the Captain's task to bring lost souls to the Saviour had begun in earnest. It could not have been easy for them; they would have been up against rough and ready folk, toughened by the circumstances of a hard lifestyle.
In fact the local press in that year carried various reports concerning the "Salvation Army" and much of the comment was anti, rather than pro- Army! For instance in the Observer, March 17 1880, a letter was written over a non-de-plume and it related to the experience of the writer at a meeting, which had been conducted by a Captain Wilson. "………I know that some young men attend only for a lark, but I was most disgusted when I went with two friends and finding the place crammed, we stood at the back, only to be told insolently, "to sit down or get out" We found seats, and during the singing of the final hymn, a young lady crossed the aisle, spoke to her sister and then returned to her seat. Captain Wilson left the platform and insolently ordered her out. On asking why, the lady was told, "You go out, that's my reason". She went, and I and several others were most indignant; such conduct is very bad and lowered Captain Wilson in my estimation, particularly as this is not the only case of harshness towards the congregation on his part. " That letter not only tells us something of the very first Captain to command the Grimsby Army, but also confirms that the Army was actually in being in 1880.
Despite all the complaints, the Army flourished, gradually overcoming many of the obstacles, which beset them, obstacles often raised up by the very people who were so dreadfully sunk in despair and poverty, and the very next year of 1881, the newspapers were reporting that these new Salvationists had purchased their own Barracks in Duncombe Street and that huge crowds of converts and drunkards attended their meetings. What joy that must have created in the hearts of those early soldiers! These new premises had previously been used as a sawmill, and had belonged to Bell and Trolley, Wood Sawyers & Wheelwrights & Blacksmiths (they also built boats on the fish docks) and were numbered 126-132 Duncombe Street, next door at no124, the premises were occupied by Walter Cutting Twine Spinner, and the neighbours at 134 were James May, Coal and Potato Merchant. Here than, in much humbler surroundings than the grand Temperance Hall, the converted sawmill would witness the more wonderful conversion, of the thousands of men, women and children who whilst sitting on the hard uncomfortable wooden benches, gave their hearts over to Jesus. Unfortunately the early days of the Grimsby Corps, are not very well recorded by them, but sufficient enough are they to give us an idea of the excitement, and enthusiasm for the task in hand that those early day soldiers displayed, despite the opposition that they met. In those early days to be a uniformed Salvationist was a signal for gibes and taunts and cries of "Sally Bummers" to be hurled at them along with a few more dangerous missiles! Proof, if proof were necessary, of the needs of the area in which the new corps was fast and firmly becoming established, is obvious from the records that have been made over the years regarding such events as the Poor Children's Treats, when sometimes as many as 900, sometimes more would attend in rags and tatters, many of them strangers to soap and water or any of the small things that we take so much for granted today. In the Grimsby News Issue for 11th February 1882, it was reported that the membership now stands at about 600, chiefly composed of fishermen and reclaimed drunkards, whilst in that same year, on the 8th March it was recorded that a lecture had been given by Mrs General Booth, who spoke for over one and a half hours on the origin of the Army and the reason for it's function. The collection of £25 was on behalf of funds for their new barracks in Duncombe Street. With the Army's popularity growing at such a rate, we cannot help wondering what it would have been like to have been involved in the corps at that time, and about the leaders and the comrades and their commitment. It seems obvious that they were blessed with the power of The Holy Spirit, as more and more people were drawn like a magnet to Jesus Christ. As yet there was no band, no songsters, or any other specialist sections, which might have attracted a crowd, nothing but plain Bible preaching, a reliance upon prayer and the genuine sincerity of the members. It was on 28 May 1880, that the Grimsby attachment held 'a Council of War' during which, The General, (the Reverend William Booth) presented the colours, and Grimsby's first Salvation Army flag began making it's witness throughout the town. We remain as proud as ever to serve under the colours of our Lord Jesus Christ! Before long, a second corps was opened in King Edward Street just about a mile away from the Citadel, which was known as "The Fort" until it moved to new premises in (old) Victoria Street and changed it's name to Grimsby Victoria (now Grimsby Willows Corps). Then on 1st of June 1914 yet another corps "opened fire" in Immingham, before long Cleethorpes, too, would have a new corps situated in Cambridge Road, above a snooker hall. The Salvation Army, as the song says really had come to Grimsby Town!
