General leads 150th anniversary celebration at oldest active Salvation Army corps
The music played throughout the weekend celebrated the Poplar Corps’ history and continued work.
By Major Richard Mingay, IHQ –
General André Cox and Commissioner Silvia Cox, World President of Women’s Ministries led a march as part of the Poplar Corps’ 150th anniversary celebration.
Celebrations began with a family fun day inviting members of the community to engage in crafts, games and table tennis. The Timbreltastic group from Hadleigh Temple gave out tambourines, and many adults and children enjoyed a timbrel lesson before playing together.
Visitors look at the early Poplar Corps memorabilia.
The evening “From Music Hall to Lighthouse” program at the nearby Calvary Charismatic Baptist Church reflected the spirit of the early Salvation Army but within the context of the corps dynamic of today. As Corps Officers Majors David and Meshiel Brown welcomed the congregation they were interrupted by an apparently worse-for-wear “Champagne Charlie” (Jo Cass) whose rendition of the 19th-century music hall song morphed into “Bless His Name, He Sets me Free” led by vocal soloist Luke Cozens.
“This is where it all began. William Booth would be proud and pleased to see that The Salvation Army in Poplar is still fulfilling the mission of God; being present in the community, preaching the gospel message and meeting human need without discrimination,” General André Cox said. “We cannot disconnect the gospel message from meeting those in need” He admitted that being in such a historic location almost gave him goose bumps but warned, “We need to promote Christ and not The Salvation Army.”
Watch the video interview with the General here.
