Early Years of the Salvation Army - Irthlingborough Historical Society

The Salvation Army was founded as the East London Christian Mission in 1865 by the one-time Methodist minister William Booth. In 1878 he reorganised the Mission, became its first General and introduced its well-known military structure.

The first meeting of Salvationists in Northampton was on 14th June, 1879 when they gathered in the Hall of Varieties in Gold Street. Within three months they were using a portion of the Corn Exchange before their removal to a place bearing the sobriquet of The Mouse Trap on Barrack Road. Following a period using a huge wooden circus situated in Victoria Gardens they finally settled in part of the former gaol. They appropriately named it The Converted Gaol. Holding 2,000 people it perfectly suited their needs and they remained there until early 1928. On 14th December, 1889 the Northampton Mercury recorded that 50 people attended ‘knee drill’ in the Northampton Barracks at 7am the previous Sunday morning. At the evening meeting an energetic address ‘Let’s escape from Sodom’ was listened to with rapt attention by a crowded hall. The zeal of the early Salvationists’ worship in those days was certainly very different to what was experienced in the Church of England and certainly ruffled not a few feathers both locally and nationally.

Early on all was far from plain-sailing and the Northampton Mercury of 23rd February, 1884 gave a long report of rioting by roughs and thugs intent on breaking up the meetings. During that same month trouble was also experienced by those Salvationists intent on expanding their ministry into our local towns and villages.

“A detachment of the Salvation Army from Rushden paid a visit to Raunds on the 7th inst. In company with some local residents they paraded the village chanting their Army songs to popular Music Hall tunes. This was in keeping with the declaration of William Booth who demanded to know why the Devil should have the best tunes! They were followed by another throng of women and children, and a Skeleton Army of young men. Speaking was attempted at certain places along the route but was accompanied by a regular fuselage of jesting, jeering, larking and hustling from the Skeleton Army.

After an hour or more spent in perambulations the Rushden Recruiting Sergeants returned to their temporary billet at the Robin Hood Inn, got their horse and trap and beat a retreat from the village amidst the hootings and groanings of the crowd who had congregated in the open space in front of the inn.”

However, an impression must have been made on the people of Raunds as by May the Northampton Mercury reported, “Arthur Farmer, a converted Nigger and banjo player has been granted a commission by William Booth.” But the Skeleton Army refused to concede defeat and in December 1884 the paper reported, “The service on Sunday was characterized by some unseemly proceedings. A number of youths attended and created a disturbance. The Captain was pushed out of the hall and down the steps into the yard. Much hooting and uproar followed.”

Unsurprisingly not all opposition came from roughnecks, toughs and thugs. In Stamford, a town steeped in ecclesiastic history which by the thirteenth century boasted 14 churches, 2 monastic institutions and 4 friaries, it was the magistrates who strove to prevent the Army getting established. In August, 1887 the Salvationist Officer and one other were prosecuted under Section 72 of the Highways Act for street preaching and thus causing unlawful obstruction for free passage of Red Lion Square. Found guilty, they were each fined 23 shillings with seven shillings costs, or 21 days imprisonment in the event of default. Having been denied time in which to produce the money to pay the fine they were immediately removed to Leicester Gaol where five others of the Army were already incarcerated.

In Bangor, County Down two female officers of the Army were also convicted of causing obstruction through street preaching. The sympathetic magistrates only imposed a small, token fine and when the officers said they would prefer to go to prison one of the magistrates paid their fines and they were released. A similar conviction of a well-known Belfast Protestant lecturer at the same court did not elicit such support as when he refused to pay the token fine he was sent to prison for seven days!

Opposition was not quite so aggressive here in Irthlingborough but the first 50 years was a story of stout-hearted fighting for the cause, inspired and encouraged by boundless faith which kept the flag flying when all seemed hopeless.

It was in about 1880 that the very first meetings were held in the village. They were worked from Wellingborough by Captain & Mrs Bishop and Lieutenant Bishop. The meetings were conducted by girl Cadets from the Finedon Garrison. The message was taken to the people at meetings often held in backyards or any suitable place behind rows of houses but the opposition was relentless.

On Boxing Day, 1881 the Irthlingborough Fife and Drum Band played in the village whilst the hand-bell ringers visited the houses of the principal inhabitants. Elsewhere in the village Robert Knight was busy interrupting an open-air service being held by the Salvation Army on the Market Square – not for the first time. He began blaspheming and when asked to stop he punched Captain Frederick Spinks several times, including on the nose. At the Petty Sessions he was fined five shillings with thirteen shillings and sixpence costs. Not being able, or prepared to pay he was jailed for 14 days.

Meanwhile, in the garden of the British Arms in Baker’s Lane a young boy was playing with an oil-cake crusher. He then put his hand into the cogs and his thumb was ripped off. Quite a day for the village.

On 26th April, 1883 hundreds of people from Irthlingborough and the surrounding area flocked to Higham Ferrers when they heard that Salvationists from Rushden were to hold an open-air meeting there. Their curiosity had been aroused by the prospect of a disturbance, but as soon as the expected shouting, hooting & jostling began the Salvationists beat a hasty retreat home.

The start of things in Irthlingborough

It was in 1884 that the Irthlingborough organisation started as a separate Corps. The first room in which meetings were held was let to the Corps by Mr Ben Butcher and this was above a stable and pigsty, thus the choruses sung by the members above were often accompanied by a chorus from the animals below. Lieut. Henry Otway was one of the officers at that time and in later years he was promoted to the rank of Colonel. He died in 1925.It was a great struggle to keep going and after a time the room was closed down. In due course, however George Bayes, the local Sanitary Inspector contacted Northampton H.Q. and urged them to re-start the Corps and in 1894 the empty workshop of the former Co-operative Boot Factory, standing on the site now occupied by the Conservative Club, was leased from Mr Butcher for six months. The Commanding Officers were Captain Blackwell and Lieut. Paine. William Langley was appointed Corps Secretary and Treasurer.

There was plenty of local opposition to contend with but this time the Army had come to stay.According to the Church magazine, Public Teas organised by St. Peter’s Church were very popular at that time and it didn’t take the Army long to follow suit. On 8th June, 1894 the Northampton Mercury recorded that the Salvation Army had a tea in the Barracks when over 200 sat down. The newly formed band of the Burton Latimer Corps gave their services. The special services on the Sunday and Monday were crowded with the band of the Kettering Corps supplying the music.
In 1896 a big move forward was made when the Corps leased a hall in Lees Lane from Mr A Dunmore at a rent of 11/- a week. This was opened by Captain King & Lieut. Knowles with the Kettering Citadel Band attending. Well known members of the Corps at that time included Fred Wright, Mr J.Mills, Mr J.Neville, William Burnham, Mr A.Drage & Mr A.Spriggs. This hall continued in use until 1934. The move into larger barracks at the west end of the village was even reported in the Gloucester Citizen.

One of the earliest mentions of the local Corps having its own band was on 6th August, 1900 when it attended a Field Day at Northampton. On 1st March, 1914 a Boys’ Band under the direction of Alfred Drage accompanied the hymns at the Sunday School Prize Giving.

The initial storm of opposition was not totally weathered however as Peter Cotton, a shoe-hand from Rushden was summoned for disturbing the congregation of the Salvation Army at Irthlingborough on June 28th 1896. Captain George Gates said that whilst a special service was being held the defendant, who was drunk, disturbed the proceedings and had to be turned out by the police. He was fined 5/- and made to pay 6/- costs.

Harry Bollard, a riveter of Irthlingborough was summoned for assaulting William Issitt on January 1st 1897. The disturbance arose through the defendant having interrupted a Salvation Army service. He too was fined 5/- with 6/- costs.

Converts to the cause were always ready to tell of their conversion and in December, 1903 Miss Florence Worth, a converted actress, gave the story of her life to a large audience in the old Wesleyan Chapel in High Street. She first appeared in the costume of an actress and afterwards in the uniform of a Salvation Army soldier. The evening was presided over by Methodist Minister Rev’d. D.Pughe.

The previous Sunday had been designated Temperance Sunday which was observed in several places of worship in the village. An open-air meeting held at Irthlingborough Cross was addressed by Mr Wharmby of Wellingborough and Rev’d. Pughe. Miss P Betts gave a solo.

A report of Christmas activities does suggest that by 1904 the Army was being accepted as an integral part of the community. Carols were played in the streets on Christmas Eve by the Salvation Army and the Town Silver Band under Mr J.B.York to the great delight of the inhabitants. The bands paraded again on Boxing Day and took up collections. Concerts by the combined bands were to continue for many years with the Cross and particularly Dr. Robb’s garden in Station Road being favoured venues. It is also interesting to note that even after the new hall had been opened in 1934 the garden continued to be used. On Sunday, 3rd July, 1938 the local Corps hosted Buckingham Corps Band. The visitors paraded the town both in the morning and afternoon before offering two musical festivals in the afternoon and evening on the lawn of what had become Mrs Robb’s garden.

On 4th February, 1911 the War Cry published an obituary for Envoy William Boon, known in Irthlingborough as Billy Boon whose early life had been marred by excessive drinking. A few months after getting married he pawned his best clothes to buy beer and gave his wife a back-eye when she protested. For this and other later drink-related offences he served several spells in prison with hard labour. The Salvation Army at Woodford then took him in charge, and when that Corps closed down he moved to Irthlingborough. In the words of the War Cry he had been “Marred by drink – Mended by salvation!”

In February, 1915 Mrs Lilley, wife of the prominent local manufacturer Thomas Lilley presented about 100 prizes at the annual Prize Giving ceremony. With such numbers attending it was felt that the school was really going from strength to strength.

It was reported on 16th July, 1915 that Pte. Albert Reynolds was the first Salvationist from Irthlingborough to be killed at the front. He had been in France for just one month. Previous to enlisting he was an iron-stone worker and an ardent member of the Salvation Army, most regular in his devotional duties in the Corps. He left behind a wife and four young children, one of whom was to become greatly instrumental in the further development of the Army Sunday School, albeit in the years following the second worldwide calamity.

The Argos newspaper reported on 23rd April, 1915 that Salvationist William Langley had been elected Chairman of the Urban District Council. Not only was he the first Labour man to take the Chair but was the youngest ever to be elected to that office. “It was a coincidence,” he said, “that this year of His Majesty’s total abstinence to elect a total abstainer to carry out the Council’s business.” He was to be elected to that post on five occasions.

A native of Irthlingborough, the son of Robert Langley a prominent Wesleyan he had started work at the age of ten in a local boot factory and joined a trade union at seventeen. William had been a Salvationist for many years and Superintendent of the Salvation Army Sunday School, which with over 200 scholars was regarded as one of the strongest in the county.

On 24th March, 1916 the Corps celebrated its 22nd anniversary. The previous day an excellent tea had been provided for a large number of people and on Sunday Adjutant Grafton gave an interesting lecture entitled “The Salvation Army at the Front.”

None could hardly have imagined the repercussions which were to follow this Army funeral in the town.
A remarkable funeral

Commandant James Phillips
Died 1st April 1922 aged 45 years
A remarkable funeral was held at Irthlingborough on Wednesday when the immortal [sic] remains of Commandant James Phillips were laid to rest. More than 100 Salvation Army officers and men attended the obsequies. Although he had not been long in the town he had made many friends and gained a great deal of respect.
We are informed that this is the first Army officer to be buried in the district.
He had served the Army well for 22 years.

Local people must have stared in amazement at the headline in the Northampton Chronicle & Echo on 11th January, 1923
“Forged will – Prison for ex-Salvation Army Officer”. 48 year old Edward Johns was found guilty at the Old Bailey of forging the will of James Phillips, formerly of Tenby but who died at Irthlingborough where he was Commandant of the Salvation Army.
It appears that when Phillips died, Johns got possession of his will and forged another. In the forgery £100 in Treasury Bonds was left to Phillips’ sisters but the residue of about £300 to Edward Johns. He then persuaded Onslow Smith, a clerk to witness the forgery. Smith in turn persuaded Ernest Pullen of Newington Green to also witness the forged will, telling him that it was that of an elderly man. Fortunately, when probate was applied for a brother of Phillips made inquiries, instructed a solicitor and the truth was discovered by Scotland Yard.

Edward Johns had been a Salvation Army officer for many years until complaints had been made about him at Aldershot and in 1920 he was suspended from office for offences there. For the forgery of the will he was sentenced to 3 years penal servitude whilst Onslow Smith, found guilty of conspiring to pervert the course of justice received 12 months imprisonment. No charges were brought against Ernest Pullen.
Local people had been given some indication of the severity of the case just before Christmas by the fact that after investigations by Scotland Yard the initial hearing had been held at Bow Street Magistrates’ Court.
*

18th August, 1922 – The Wellingborough News reported, “A Salvation Army funeral took place this week of Martha Groom, widow of Tom Groom and one of the oldest inhabitants of Irthlingborough, and a staunch member of the Corps.”
The following week the paper included – “Our Irthlingborough agent reports that he sold out of last week’s Wellingborough News in record time and attributes this to the photographs of the Salvation Army funeral which took place in Irthlingborough.” Certainly a good way to sell the papers!
Not widely reported in the press but good work on the ‘home front’ in February, 1933 by local officers who served soup and hot drinks to the queues of unemployed men waiting hopefully for work at the Labour Exchange in High Street West. Bitterly cold weather and little available work made life a misery for countless local families.

Intimate pictures of life in London’s slums were given in a talk here in January, 1936 by Colonel Mrs Cunningham who had ministered in the East End for the Army over a period of many years. Her work had been recorded by Hugh Redwood in his book ‘God in the Slums’. She told graphic stories of incidents in London’s darkest slums, describing some of ‘the houses’ and the ghastly conditions in which people lived. She said that Irthlingborough people could hardly visualise the slum areas and unemployment as it was in the East End of London and the people responsible for the administration of Irthlingborough should feel proud that they were not troubled by such conditions.

Care of the poor, or to be more precise the gentlemen of the road, tramps or inspectors of milestones, whatever you will, was certainly a topic of some concern in Irthlingborough and not helped by newspaper reports that on Christmas morning, 1936 the Town Silver Band joined forces with the Salvation Army Band for a visit to the Casual Wards situated on the bypass. 112 men and two women were in residence and reportedly ‘….spent a happy time’ over the festive period. “As well they might!” grumbled many local people who lacked the wherewithal to provide their table with boiled beef, Brussels sprouts, parsnips and boiled potatoes followed by plum pudding and custard, as was served up to the inmates that day. Bacon and eggs had already been consumed before the bandsmen arrived to play a selection of Christmas music, and Christmas cake and tea would be served before it was time for hot baths before bedtime.

How Mr Knight got a new fountain pen!
The annual Sale of Work in December, 1939 had been opened by Hugh Shortland and one competition caused much amusement. In order to win a fountain pen competitors had to repeat the name of the famous makers of the pen as many times as they could in 20 seconds – mispronunciations would not be counted. Many tried their luck but no one could come anywhere near to Headmaster George Knight who carried off the coveted prize by repeating the name 40 times. One would imagine that repeating Conway Steward Pen whilst combining both speed and accurate enunciation would tax the ability of the majority of us!

The Northampton Mercury commented that a feature of bazaars held in Irthlingborough is one that does not appear to be shared by other towns – the presence of so many town councillors attending. This identification of leading figures of the town’s civic life with the town’s religious activity is a fact worth thinking about. Irthlingborough is always thought of as a happy family, a compliment well-deserved and long may it continue.

Musical Memories
From the very beginning music has played an important part in the traditions of the Salvation Army. At first its big bass drum and brass instruments were necessary to drown the shouts and jeering of those who sought to break up the meetings which were usually held in the open air. As well as the Senior Band, in the years after the Second World War the Irthlingborough Corps also boasted a Young Peoples’ Band, enthusiastically run by Lieut. John Thornhill and later by John Jackson. Many local boys, and a few girls, were taught to read music and play instruments, and encouraged to join in the Monday Peoples’ Night Concerts where their musical offerings were always well received.
Richard and Eric Hilton, John Langley, Ray Odell, John Newitt, Roy York, Mary Edge, Margaret Langley, Jean Frearson, Michael Eaton, Stephen Carvell, David Long, Meigan Stevens, Ted & Dorothy Ager, Norma Downes, Pauline Newitt, Iris Slawson and David Downs are names which immediately come to mind. Most band members were also members of the Corps Singing Company led by Jean Frearson, who later married Bandmaster Dennis Rowland. Recorder playing was also encouraged as was the playing of the timbrel or tambourine led by Wendy Frearson. These groups too were constantly in demand on both Sunday afternoons for the Praise Meeting and on Monday evenings.
Probably the highlight of being a member of the Young Peoples’ Band was to join in the Open Air Services which were a regular feature in the life of the town in the late 1940s and 1950s. Saturday evening standing outside Mrs Wykes’ sweet shop in the High Street, Sunday morning in the Terraces or along Back Way and Sunday evening in Park Street or outside the Vine Inn.

A quarter past five on a cold winter’s evening tested one’s commitment to the full. Bitter cold, fingerless gloves and long trousers, quite a milestone in any boy’s life then, a tiny bulb fixed to the lapel to light up the music with the battery concealed in an inside pocket were all features of this service. At the end all would form up and march back to the hall in Spinney Road playing a lively march. Mr Slawson led the parade carrying the colours whilst Mr Chapman from Little Addington brought up the rear carrying a red oil lamp suspended from a pole. Having arrived at the hall everyone then had a few minutes to warm up before the start of the Evening Service which lasted until about 8 o’clock.

A bandsman’s commitment on a Sunday in those days was tremendous. The day began with an Open Air Service at 10am followed by the 11am service in the hall, a Praise Meeting at 3pm and then the Open Air at 5-30pm followed immediately by the Evening Service.

Memories of a life-time in the Army – Gertrude Hilton [née Hale]
Our family moved to George Street, Irthlingboro’ in 1922 – I think it was a Thursday. On the Saturday a girl a bit younger than me came up the back way of the houses to go along the entry to the street, and as she passed our back door she called out, “Cooee” and asked if I wanted to go to Sunday School with her the next day. The girl turned out to be Connie Mumford who had been visiting her Gran, and the Sunday School was the Salvation Army in Army Hill (Lees Lane) so my two brothers, Bill and Sid and I went.
Some weeks we would have Pea Suppers. Mrs Freeman lived in the bottom house of Army Hill and cooked the sloppy peas which would be fetched by the Officer, or helpers, and served in the Hall – a saucerful for a halfpenny! Other weeks we would have jacket potatoes cooked in Ma Parson’s bakehouse (later Drage’s). These would be fetched in a small zinc wash tub.
I recall the time when Captain Henderson borrowed a wheelbarrow and went to the allotments in Windmill Road. Of course, she went at a time when she knew the men would be working there, and asked for contributions for the Harvest Festival – no-one refused.

I can remember going to Ringstead for the Sunday School outing. We were taken in a large carriage or cart drawn by a pair of horses. We went to a field where the lakes are now and played games and had a tea-party picnic. On the way back, coming down Crow Hill, I remember the horses coming down almost sideways because it was so steep, noses together and bottoms apart. Another year we went to Market Harborough, but we must have had motor transport by then. Once we went to Lilford Hall and had a picnic in the park. We went on the train and it seemed as if we walked at least half way, what with the long walk to our station and a long walk from Thorpe Station to Lilford at the other end as well. While we were there I was playing along with everyone else and hurt my ankle when I kicked a ball. Bob Langley, who had borrowed his father’s car, brought me home so I missed the two long walks on the way back. It was an accident, honest!
Some snippets of after-meeting conversations which I recall include when Brigadiers Len & Nellie Langley visited Irthlingboro’ shortly before their retirement here and we were talking at the end of the meeting. Len remarked that he hoped people would speak to them when they settled here. I explained that I wasn’t very good at quickly recognising people and that they looked so different out of uniform, to which Nellie immediately retorted, “But, my dear, I wasn’t born in a bonnet!”

Captain Aspden, Cliff Langley and I were talking one day about the General and his travels. I said, “The General is not interested in us. I doubt whether he knows where Irthlingborough is, that’s if he’s ever heard of it.”
A few months later, after Captain Sutton had arrived to take charge here at the May Change, we had a midweek visit from Commissioner Kitching who was travelling around the Division. An Open-Air Meeting was held at the bottom of Cherry Street, and Mrs Connie Eaton and myself, both Songsters, were asked to attend out of uniform with our children, Geoffery and Jean both in prams, so that there would definitely be someone listening.
A few years later when Commissioner Kitching became General I said to Cliff, “Well at least this General will know where Irthlingborough is!”

It is so easy to make a faux pas and a couple that I recall were made by two very well-respected members of the Corps. The first was by Fred Langley when announcing the venue of a meeting – “The open air meeting this evening will be outside the Vine Inn. If it’s wet we’ll meet inside.” When giving his open air witness Colour Sergeant Frank Slawson certainly made his listeners think when he posed the question – “If you were to wake up one morning and find that you were dead, what would you think about that?”

At an open-air service outside the Horse-shoe Inn one of the songsters was shouting out the words to the hymn. The verse ended with the words, ‘With you Lord I shall safely reach the goal’. Unfortunately what came out was, ‘With you Lord I shall safely reach the gaol!’

Catering for the coming generation
“What happy times we enjoyed in the Salvation Army Juniors!” recalls Sylvia Sawford, née Goode, “One memory often brings a smile even today, nearly, dare I say it, sixty years later! We girls had been practising a comedy item for a concert to be given in the little Army Hall at Burton Latimer. We sidled onto the tiny platform taking care to face the audience. We sang the first verse and chorus with gusto taking care to do all the bending and stretching actions we’d practised. There was silence! Then we turned our backs to the audience to sing the remaining verses. This time they howled with laughter. Each girl had a mask of a smiling face on the back of her head, and an apron pinned behind, so as we sang and performed our actions, knees, elbows and waists did some amazing contortionist tricks.”

The Burton Latimer Salvation Army Hall was next door to the Working Men’s Club just inside Burton Latimer main street. It was made of corrugated-iron and quite small. The interior was dominated by a huge stove situated in the centre and consequently you either froze, or nearly suffocated depending on where you sat!

Going to Sunday School was a serious matter in those days with the majority of children in the town attending those at St. Peter’s, Baptist, Methodist, Welford Avenue or Salvation Army. The school at the Army met at 10am and again at 2pm. Every child attending had a blue ‘star card’, the inner covers quite like a calendar, dating every Sunday through the year, with two small boxes against each date. As the child presented the card at the table just inside the door it was stamped with a purple star. Late-comers received a purple cross whilst bad behaviour merited a circle which was stamped around the star. A cross or circle reduced the mark by half.
Each child had a number printed on its Star Card and an appropriate star for each child would be marked on a register so every attendance would be carefully recorded. At the end of the year the stars were totted up with the value of the prize awarded depending on the total. This was recorded in the front of the prize – ie Attendance 98/104.

The songs and choruses and a little piece for each Sunday to memorise was stapled inside the Star Card and after songs, prayer, announcements and items of interest the whole school divided into classes of about ten children. Before the opening of the new Junior Hall several of the teachers had had to manhandle the heavy forms, lifting them here and there and placing some back to front thus making classrooms so that the scholars could sit facing each other with the teacher sitting on a chair from which the lesson or story was presented. Promptly at 10.45am the whole school would reassemble to sing the final song before dispersing leaving the adult volunteers to put the furniture back from whence it came and prepare the hall for the senior meeting which followed shortly. Afternoon Sunday School began to 2 o’clock and piles of bibles were given out to the older children whilst the younger ones went for their sand-tray lesson. There then followed the rushed procedure to restore the hall for the 3 o’clock senior meeting – an exhausting process!

The leader of the Army Sunday School in the 1950s was Violet Reynolds and she asked a local shop-keeper, Mr Teat who had a cake and sweet shop in the High Street just along from Spinney Road and the Sunday School, if he would respect the Sabbath and not open his shop. She was concerned that a number of children had been calling at the shop on their way to Sunday School and spending some of their collection. They then brought sweets into Sunday School with them! Mr Teat absolutely refused.

Large numbers of children regularly attended Sunday School at the Army at both 10am and 2pm. Numbers possibly reached their peak when the school was under the direction of Violet Reynolds, a very popular and enthusiastic Young Peoples’ Sergeant Major. The annual Prize-Giving was always eagerly looked forward to by both scholars and parents who filled the hall to capacity. A prominent local person was always invited to distribute the many prizes, and invariably accepted. Other guests included members of other churches in the town and local councillors were always very well represented. The attendance of head-teachers Miss Thomas and Mr Knight was also not uncommon. In 1950 Mrs H.R.Bugby presented prizes to about 150 scholars. These included 13 Bibles, 17 certificates of merit for passing the 1950 examination, and four illuminated certificates to scholars for winning first-class certificates for three successive years. On Sunday, 5th January, 1936 the Army Sunday School had been favoured with a visit from John White, shoe manufacturer from Rushden who presented the prizes. The Mayor of Higham Ferrers, Alderman Patenall, presided. The then Young Peoples’ Sergeant Major William Langley J.P. paid tribute to Mr White who was an Irthlingborough born man, saying he had often heard it said that young men of today were lacking in initiative but the fact the John White was one of the foremost names in footwear manufacture in the country proved that the spirit of initiative was still alive. The hearty singing of the scholars was delightful and such was Mr White’s appreciation he asked for an encore and with even more zest, they duly obliged.

There were those, though who considered that the Sally Army was obviously fine for Pea Suppers but not for Sunday School. One former partaker of the local delicacy recalled that as a child she remembered going to the Salvation Army at the bottom of Army Hill for Pea Suppers. In her time Mrs Dawson, who kept the fish & chip shop opposite, would bring the cooked peas across to the hall and everyone would pay a halfpenny for a dish. She always looked forward to these evenings and wanted to go to the Army Sunday School because they always sang such lively songs and seemed to have a good time, but her mother wouldn’t hear of it, “Oh no, you go to a proper Sunday School at the Church with your sisters!” The Army may have lost one young convert through her mother’s mistaken opinion but it certainly gained many more. In fact it would probably be true to say that Irthlingborough was the ‘hot-bed’ of the movement in the post-WW2 period with large numbers regularly attending the several schools in the town. It would be fair to record here that the first known Sunday, or Sabbath School in Irthlingborough was established in 1816 by the Baptists. It has already been demonstrated that fine as the Citadel in Spinney Road was, it was totally inadequate to cope with the demands being put on it. Something had to be done, and something was done!

On Saturday, 16th September, 1950 the opening ceremony of the new Young Peoples’ Hall by Mrs J.H.McGibbon took place. The occasion was presided over by Lieut. Thornhill, the local officer and Mr C.W.S. Green and was attended by Divisional Commander Brigadier G.B. Smith and Divisional Young Peoples’ Leader F.Robinson. The opening song was appropriately ‘Fight the Good Fight!’
The hall had previously been a military hut in Mill Hill. Hearing it had been relinquished by the authorities Violet Reynolds, Lil Langley and other officials went to see if it would be suitable for use here. They were most enthusiastic and negotiations for purchase began. It was purchased and transported to Irthlingborough and erected by Messrs. Molcher on land behind the Senior Hall adjoining the Rest Gardens. The Council would only allow it to be painted green to blend in with its surroundings. Its name, THE SALVATION ARMY YOUNG PEOPLES’ HALL was painted proudly across the roof. And proud the Corps certainly was as the building became a visual testimony to the excellent work being done by Violet, Lil, Phyl Barnes and Bill Langley who were faithfully supported by a team of dedicated class teachers. From the start, the premises were to be used to the full with a whole range of activities on offer throughout the week, so much so that the Army became a way of life for many. Meigan Lyons, née Stevens said, “When I was about 4 or 5 years old Dad rejoined the Salvation Army and it became my life too! My routine from then on for every Sunday was;
10am Sunday School
11am Morning service then home to listen to Billy Cotton on the radio!!
2pm Sunday School
3pm Praise Meeting then tea with Nana Stevens
5.30pm Open Air Meeting
6-30pm Evening Service
Monday evening – an entertainments evening often called Peoples’ Night
Tuesday evening – Band Practice – I played the cornet.
Wednesday evening – Songster Practice.
Thursday evening – Youth Club, with Dad as a leader!

I remember Dad took the Youth Club to Matlock just after the War. We couldn’t get on the train home because it was full of servicemen. Dad had to ring the policeman in Irthlingborough who then went round to each home to tell them their children would be late. In those days, of course, very few people had phones in the home, but luckily, the town was well provisioned with its own policemen!

I took the Sand Tray Class in Sunday School for some time and played the piano for the Singing Company. Mum ran the Over Sixties Club for some years. I remember going to ask Captain Bedson if I could go to the cinema to see the Coronation in 1953 – there were strict rules which said we should not go to the cinema. I was told “No,” because people would see me and it would set the wrong example.

I stayed in the Army until I left home at 18 to start my nurse training at Kings College Hospital, close to the Army Training College in London. Soon after I left the Salvation Army and became a member of the Church of England.

It would appear that Jean Rowland, née Frearson was perhaps of a more reactionary nature than Meigan when it came to going to the cinema, as she recalled, “I had read the book Rebecca by Daphne DuMaurier. I loved the story. I lent the book to my friend Chris who I worked with at the Laundry. One Friday before we left off work one of the other girls said that she was going to see the film Rebecca at the Regal Cinema in Wellingborough on a SUNDAY where it was showing for just the one night. Starring in it were Joan Fontaine and Lawrence Olivier, then two cinema idols. As a Salvationist I hadn’t been to the cinema since I was a kid and I knew that to go was frowned upon – but I agreed to go. I thought if I fulfilled my obligations as a Songster first…..
…… I attended the Sunday evening meeting without my uniform but in my Army black gabardine mac. It was a chilly evening so no one knew. I nipped out of the hall after the Songsters had sung. I’d got a brown carrier bag in my pocket and put my bonnet in that. I caught the bus to Finedon and Chris got on there. I think maybe I enjoyed the film even more thinking that it was really ‘out of bounds’ for me!”

Jean also recalled that up to the 1960s the traditional Salvation Army bonnet had been worn in a natural manner but then a few young women started to wear it more forward, not realising how ill-fitting it looked from the back. Gradually it was tipped more and more forward and became more of a fashion item than part of the uniform.

“Until about 1970 we were used to wearing the well-known black straw bonnet with its neat ribbon bow to the side and ‘The Salvation Army’ written on a bright red ribbon across the front but it would be a change to have a costume type uniform and as the hat went with the ‘new look’ we took the plunge. I liked the nice white blouse with a badge at the neck and it was comfortable to wear. The hat was another matter though. It felt different, of course, but when two of us were walking together in Northampton after attending a rally for Sunday School teachers, we were mistaken for female police officers on the beat! In the early days make-up had been frowned upon but then it became the vogue to wear lipstick and eye make-up along with the bonnet change.”

Sunday school, but never Sunday football!
Up to the middle of the twentieth century Sunday School played a major role in the lives of a great number of children. As well as providing religious education on a Sunday many of the schools provided activities throughout the week in the form of choirs, bands, drama and sporting clubs. Having been awarded a copy of the Bible for prompt and regular attendance, usually up to the age of fourteen, many former scholars then moved seamlessly through these activity groups into the worship and activities of the church with whom the school was associated.

On 8th December, 1903 a meeting was held to discuss the possibility of starting an adult version of Sunday School in the town encompassing men of all denominations. It was agreed that a first meeting of the Adult School should be held in the Board School in College Street the following Sunday morning when Mr J.H.Bond of Rushden would address members on the subject of ‘Unity with Christ’. Mr W.Langley was elected president and T.Chown secretary. It was not very long before a Women’s Adult School was also formed.

24th January, 1904 was regarded as a ‘red letter’ day for the Adult School when the ex-boxer ‘Professor’ Ball was the principal speaker at three meetings.

27th February, 1904 – the Adult School organised tea and entertainment in the Central Hall at which 270 attended. The evening entertainment was provided by Rushden Adult School members who performed as ‘Unblacked Minstrels’.

20th August, 1904 – 266 members & friends attended the Adult School picnic on the Rectory tennis lawn. This was followed by a concert and invited speakers.

22nd July, 1905 – Irthlingborough & Finedon Adult Schools held a picnic for over 200 at Cherry Hall. Irthlingborough supplied the food which was served by ladies from Finedon. Cricket and games followed into the evening.

10th December, 1905 – the Adult School marked its first anniversary. At 9am the lesson was read and a lengthy discussion followed. In the afternoon the Adult Schools Tramp, alias Charlie Hess gave a vivid description of his travels to Russia and other countries and in the evening a mass meeting took place. All three sessions in the Central Hall of the Board School were crowded.

24th December, 1905 – over 300 heard Rev’d D.Pughe, formerly of the Irthlingborough Weslyan Chapel speak on ‘The Light of the World’ at the Adult School.

1st October, 1950 – the Women’s Adult School Harvest Festival in the Council School Hall.

A natural progression from just meeting on a Sunday came with the forming of a string orchestra and a football club which competed in the Wellingborough & District Sunday School League. On 29th May, 1923 the Adult School Football Club was elected to the Wellingborough & District Sunday Schools’ League along with Irthlingborough Wesleyan F.C. In November, 1927 the club was fined one shilling by Northamptonshire Football Association for not sending the result sheet in on time. In that season the 1st X1 played in the Senior Division with the Reserves playing in the Junior Division. Many churches in the area were represented in this league and others, such as Irthlingborough Rangers and Wellingborough L.M.S had to provide assurances that their players were regular attendees at Sunday School. The inclusion of Wellingborough Welsh & Durham F.C. in the league is interesting, reflecting as it does the movement of families into this area from other parts of the UK, bringing with them many skills eagerly sought by local industries. That club resigned their membership at the end of the 1938-39 season.

Many of a certain generation may recall encounters between Irthlingborough Town F.C. and Miss Butcher’s Bible Class Football Club, winners of the Lower Junior Cup 1934-35, at the George Street ground and also matches against the team representing Mrs Morris’s Bible Class. It may, though come as quite a surprise to discover that Everton, Aston Villa and Fulham Football Clubs were amongst several top professional sides whose beginnings were firmly rooted in Sunday Schools.

The great leap forward

Northampton Mercury 26th October, 1935
NEW ARMY HALL AT IRTHLINGBOROUGH
LARGE ATTENDANCE AT OPENING CEREMONY
The Salvation Army at Irthlingborough is now in possession of its first permanent structure in the town. On Saturday the new Army Hall, which was built to commemorate the jubilee of the Salvation Army in the town, was opened. The building, which has been constructed on up-to-date lines at a cost of £1,450 is in Spinney Road. It is the result of 6 or 7 years’ efforts. The programme commenced with a short service out of doors when the band, conducted by Bandmaster R.S.Langley accompanied the singing. After that Col. Charles E.Bax, representing H.Q. London presented the key of the hall to Alderman C.W.Horrell of Rushden who unlocked the door. He then declared the hall open.
A service followed at which Mr W.F.Corby of Raunds presided. Mr.W.Langley, the Young Peoples’ Sergeant Major welcomed the gathering. Col. E.Bax conveyed the greetings of Headquarters and then presented a baton to Bandmaster Robert Langley which was the gift of Mr.T.Thompson an admirer of the band. Mr Thompson is the conductor of the Brotherhood Orchestra.
£35 RAISED AT SERVICE
The first statements were presented by Brig. H.Neeve who reported that the new hall had been constructed at a cost of £1,450. An allocation of £600 was received from Headquarters. There was £392 in the bank collected by the Irthlingborough Corps and a mortgage of £400 was guaranteed by Headquarters. This left a deficit of £58. An appeal for funds to wipe off the deficit brought quick response. Promises and donations from people on the platform and others, and the collection were the means of raising £35.
Prayers were given by Rev’d. H.J.Blackmore of the Methodist Church and Major Spackman, Assistant Divisional Commander. Pastor H.W.Caten gave a scripture reading and the benediction was pronounced by the Rector of Irthlingborough, Rev’d. L.W.Wright.Those present at the indoor or outdoor services, in addition to those already mentioned included; Mr J.Newell, Deacon of the Baptist Chapel; Councillors Mrs W.S.Palmer, G.Clarke, R.Bugby, G.Bayes, J.Webb, W.Favell, J.M.Crouch, Mr Wilson (Clerk), Mr & Mrs E.Turnbull (Surveyor), Mr J.T.Hawthorne (Finedon), Mr George Nicholls (Peterborough), Mr W.F.Conley, Alderman C.W.Horrell; Adjutant E.Cook representing Divisional Staff Northampton; Major & Mrs Beaumont of Wellingborough; Capt. M.Glover of Chipping Norton, a former officer at Irthlingborough; Adj. M.Langston & Capt. N.Gibbs of Irthlingborough Corps, and Mrs Neeve of Northampton; Capt. M.Langley of Isham; Mr W.C.Featherstonhaugh; Mr E.Thompson representing the builders and Mr G.Langley, President & Mr C.C.Keech, Managing Secretary who were representing Irthlingborough Co-operative Society.

In 1942 the General Purposes Committee of the Urban District Council suggested changing the name of Spinney Road to Langley Road in memory of Salvationist William Langley. Residents however, were not agreeable and exercised their rights to reject the change.

Called to Service
Major Coates, who in 1934 was in charge of the Cardiff Division, had gone into training from the Irthlingborough Corps.

No mention of the Salvation Army in Irthlingborough would be complete without a mention of the Langley family. In the first half of the last century several of the family trained for ministry in the Salvation Army. Miriam (Min) Langley married Joseph Pagett and both retired with the high rank of Lt. Colonel. Miriam’s wedding to Joseph’s in July 1937 was the first to take place in the new Citadel. Following a honeymoon on the Isle of Man from where the groom originated the couple planned to settle at first in the Liverpool Division with which each of them was familiar. As a consequence many Corps in that Division were represented at the service.Miriam’s brother Len Langley followed into ministry and both he and his wife Nellie retired to a bungalow in Windmill Road having attained the rank of Brigadier. Mildred Langley, daughter of Fred, Sgt. Major of Irthlingborough Corps became a midwife in a Salvationist Home. She reached the rank of Major before retiring to care for parents Fred & Annie in a prefab in Windmill Road.

In the second half of the century it was from the Stevens family that Berenice, having completed her training travelled to South America. There in 1958 she married fellow officer Henry Taramasco who as part of his training in London had been seconded to Irthlingborough where he became very popular with both Salvationists and non-Salvationists in the town. In South America both concentrated on missionary work in Argentina, Uruguay, Chile and Peru, particularly following the Peru earthquake in 1970. Martita and Stevie were born in South America. On returning to the U.K. both were involved in social work in Glasgow and Birmingham before retiring to Bath.

Berenice’s brother Peter and his wife Kathleen, née Hilton also trained for ministry. Their final posting was to Skegness where Captain Peter died c2000.

Others from the town to train for Christian ministry include Elizabeth Wood née Pack, Paul Needle and Keith Ward who were ordained into the Church of England and Brian Peters, Michael Langley and Ted Ager into the Methodist Church.

End of an era
One man who played an important role when the Army first came to Irthlingborough was, of course Ben Butcher who made available the premises where the first meetings were held. He must surely have felt a real glow of satisfaction when the newly built Citadel in Spinney Road opened and the Army was able to move into a new era of expanding its mission here. It would perhaps, therefore be appropriate to end this delve into the coming and early mission of the Salvation Army in Irthlingborough with his death at the age of 87 years in Northampton General Hospital on 26th May, 1939.
Benjamin Butcher was a native of Wellingborough and educated at Wellingborough Grammar School, now known as Wellingborough School where he distinguished himself two years in succession by gaining first prize in the county scripture examination.
He was one of fourteen children in the family. At the age of 22 he moved to Irthlingborough where he was apprenticed to James Bros. grocers. In 1879 he married Mary Dunmore and brought up a large family at 100, High Street West. Their youngest son, Percy was killed on the battlefield in April, 1917 when a shell burst, killing both him and his horse.

For many years Ben served as Parish Constable. In those early days many folk came to him for advice on a variety of matters and he soon became established as letter writer to the uneducated! In its obituary to him the Northampton Mercury & Herald stated that General Booth leased a one-storey factory from him while making recruiting efforts in the village and this building housed the first Corps. Ben was very fond of walking and after his wife died in 1919 it was his custom to walk to Northampton to visit his son and to Leicester to visit other relatives, and on the odd occasion he had then walked on as far as Nottingham. His son told the Mercury & Herald, “There was nothing which you could tell him from scripture which he could not quote and it was a favourite practice to ask a clergyman if he could recognise certain quotes. He had been a keen churchman all his life.”

A new era in the work and mission of the Salvation Army in Irthlingborough had certainly now begun. The early struggles to become established here and open a Corps would have defeated any but the most dedicated adherents to the cause. But success was achieved and it is a glowing testament to their endeavours that the Irthlingborough Corps of the Salvation Army continues to serve and minister to the people of the town today under the leadership of Divisional Envoy John Farrar, ably supported by his wife Dorothy.