Manly Corps to mark 125 years of service
Open-air ministry at Manly c.1950. (Photo courtesy of The Salvation Army Heritage Centre)
The Salvation Army in Manly will this weekend celebrate its 125th anniversary, with a community thanksgiving service and lunch.
The Sydney seaside suburb was a popular place for open-air evangelism in the early days of Australian settlement. In a recent Pipeline article, Major David Woodbury, wrote: The Sydney Morning Herald of Tuesday 4 October 1892 reported “a large contingent of the Salvation Army conducted religious services on the ocean beach”.
The ministry in Manly was originally based in Raglan St and was run by two sisters, Captain and Lieutenant Smith.
The Pipeline article also mentioned that “ Manly also became a popular site for Salvation Army gatherings with a large, congress-like camp being held there at a site called Fuller’s Paddock. Located just below Kangaroo Hill in the Smith Street area of Manly, the paddock often hosted a variety of events including early rugby matches.”
Today, Manly Corps operates from the New Life Church and Centre on Pittwater Rd and provides holistic ministry and a broad range of services to the disadvantaged on Sydney’s northern beaches.
“By setting up an environment where all are treated with equal respect and concern, where their individual needs are met to the best of our ability and where a sense of community and understanding and mutual respect is encouraged and nurtured,” says Manly New Life Centre Leader Captain Brett Mitchell, “we are enhancing the community infrastructure of the homeless and disenfranchised, those who ‘fall through the cracks’ and have no other service provider or support.”
A soup kitchen is run on weekdays for the homeless and disadvantaged and an evening meal is also provided on Thursday night. Other services include social welfare and emergency relief, referrals to other services, art therapy, the Positive Lifestyle Program and street mission.
A Sunday worship service is also held weekly.
Commandant Herbert Booth, leader of the 1897 congress style meetings. Herbert was appointed in 1896 as the Australasian Commander by his father, William Booth, Founder of The Salvation Army. (Photo courtesy of The Salvation Army Heritage Centre)
Opening of the Manly citadel on Saturday 14 September, 1912. (Photo courtesy of The Salvation Army Heritage Centre)
Manly Corps band on the march on Manly Corso c1949. (Photograph courtesy of the Lucas family archives)
Comments
Can you please provide me with more information about volunteering for the soup kitchen or Thursday dinner?
Thank you.
Sam Gordon