The Church Army is a Church of England evangelistic, non-profit organisation founded in 1882 by Rev Wilson Carlile.  Originally, it was formed to reach out to the poor and outcasts of the Westminster slums.  It is similar to the Methodist’s Salvation Army, formed by William Booth in 1865 and used military designations for its staff. 

The Church Army had lodging homes, employment bureaux, cheap food depots, old clothes departments and undertook social works.  There was an extensive emigration system under which many men and their families were placed in permanent employment in Canada, e.g. 3000 in 1906.

In October 1897, Rev A.T. Gledhill reported in the Evenwood Parish Magazine that the Church Army had a 3 weeks stay in Evenwood before leaving for Lands then Cockfield. 

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1897 October Evenwood Parish Magazine: an extract

In October 1912, Rev G.J. Collis reported that Captain S. Turner and Lieutenant Gournall led the Church Army mission in Evenwood.

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Date unknown, the Church Army van with Mr (Captain) S. Turner and Mr (Cadet) Flowers.  The location of the van could be somewhere near the welfare ground. 

During the First World War, the Church Army was very active among the troops in France and ran about 2,000 social clubs.  During the difficult post war years, its missionaries toured the North East of England offering hope and inspiration to the unemployed and ex-servicemen who had fallen on hard times.

In February 1924, Captain J.R. Brown and Cadet Carr led the Church Army Mission in Evenwood and assisted Rev William Richardson with church life.  There is no specific mention of deeds undertaken therefore it is assumed that their work was of a spiritual nature rather than practical.

Rev W.M. Wykes reported that in November 1933 Captain Grieg and Cadet Bourne visited the village in the Church Army van.  It was reported that they held services on 9 week days which were attended by 548 adults and 1077 children.  

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1933 November: Evenwood Parish Magazine report

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ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS & REFERENCES

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Church_Army

Evenwood Parish Magazines, various editions

Photograph courtesy of Elsie Anderson