Church Army - History, Principles and Practices, Church Army International, Training

An Anglican organization of volunteer lay workers, founded in 1882. Its aims are evangelical, but it concentrates on social welfare and rehabilitation work, mainly in cities.

History

The Church Army was founded in England in 1882 by The Reverend Wilson Carlile (afterwards prebendary of St Paul's Cathedral), who banded together in an orderly army of soldiers, officers and a few working men and women, whom he and others trained to act as Church of England evangelists among the outcasts and criminals of the Westminster slums.

Previous experience had convinced Carlile that the moral condition of the lowest classes of the people called for new and aggressive action on the part of the Church, and that this work was most effectively done by laymen and women of the same class as those whom it was desired to touch.

In 1978, the Church Army purchased 'Winchester House', a former Missionary school (see Eltham College) in Blackheath, south-east London to be refurbished as its new headquarters - officially opened by HRH The Queen Mother on 12 June 1980.

Principles and Practices

Today, in 2006, the legacy of Wilson Carlile continues as Church Army evangelists work hard to make a difference in people’s lives; Church Army has over 300 evangelists devoted to a wide range of services in Anglican churches, projects and teams throughout the United Kingdom and Ireland. Church Army’s focus is on reaching out and making the church effective by meeting people where they are, where they start from and discover ways of creating fresh and relevant expressions of Christian community.

Church Army has always been and continues to be at the cutting edge of mission and evangelism. Every year in September, Church Army celebrates Church Army Sunday; On this day, Church Army encourages churches to reach beyond their walls and engage with the local community through various activities – chocolate parties, car boot sale, community fun day and many more. More about Church Army Sunday at:[ http://www.churcharmy.org.uk/gom]

Similarly every December, Church Army encourages the local community to get in the spirit of Christmas and invite Mary and Joseph for the night, through the Posada campaign. More about Mark Russell at: :[ http://www.churcharmy.org.uk/markrussell]

Church Army International

Church Army International established in 2006 is an association of eight independent Church Army societies around the world in Africa, Australia, Barbados, Canada, Jamaica, New Zealand, United Kingdom & The purpose is to facilitate communication, cooperation, fellowship and shared vision between Church Army societies, and to promote the growth of Church Army ministry worldwide.

The Church Army International Council comprises one board member from each society and it is currently chaired by Mr Roy Totten, Chairman of Church Army UK &

The leader of each Society is a member of the Church Army International Leaders Forum chaired by the International Secretary.

Australia Barbados Canada Denmark East Africa Jamaica New Zealand United Kingdom United States

Training

Each Church Army Society is responsible for the training of its staff.