March down the Mall concludes 150th anniversary celebrations
Salvationist march for the Mall towards Buckingham Palace during the March of Witness.
More than 12,000 Salvationists poured onto the streets of central London on Sunday 5 July, the final day of Boundless – The Whole World Redeeming, for a march of witness.
See photos from the march here.
More than 2,500 participants marched, between them representing each of the 126 countries which have Salvation Army ministry. They marched from Horse Guards Parade down The Mall, towards Buckingham Palace to take the salute from General André Cox, World President of Women's Ministries Commissioner Silvia Cox, the Chief of the Staff Commissioner William Roberts and World Secretary for Women's Ministries Commissioner Nancy Roberts.
From there they headed to Constitution Hill, with the international leaders also marching from the event. The streets were lined with an additional 10,000 Salvationists, friends and members of the public cheering on the celebration, many of them travelling from the international congress venue at The O2.
Organised by Paul Gunnell, Assistant Events Manager for the United Kingdom Territory with the Republic of Ireland, the 45-minute march was led off by an International Headquarters (IHQ) contingent fronted by International Secretary to the Chief of the Staff, Commissioner William Cochrane.
Seven bands took part – the International Staff Band (ISB), Angola National Band, New York Staff Band, Chicago Staff Band, South America East Territorial Band, the Melbourne Staff Band and Regent Hall Band – as well as timbrelists, soldiers, adherent members and congress staff and volunteers.
“In 1865, The Salvation Army was born on the streets of London,” the General said. “It is entirely appropriate, then, that we should return to those streets to conclude our 150th anniversary celebrations. We have had a wonderful week of fellowship and worship at The O2 but now – as is our tradition – we want to share our joy and faith outside our own walls.”
The Army has an extensive history of marching on the streets of London. Its members have marched during previous international congresses – including in 1978 and 1990 – as well as in 2011 for the ISB’s 120th anniversary celebration.
Major Carol Horton from Australia was among those cheering on the festivities. “It’s always really exciting to see,” she said. “It reminds you of how vast the Army is.”
The General concluded: “The march marks the end of the anniversary celebrations but it is also a start – a launching point as members of God's Army return to their homes and neighbourhoods across the world, ready to continue serving God and mankind.”
Report courtesy of IHQ
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