History of the Salvation Army

The Salvation Army was founded in 1865 in London, England by William Booth (pictured). He was a minister that saw the need to help the poor and homeless who weren’t allowed into churches during that era. He left his church and focused solely on those society that were destitute in mind and soul. He spent his life from then on converting souls out in the community and helping those less fortunate. The movement spread to Birmingham, Alabama, in 1899. Each year The Salvation Army serves more than 100,000 Alabamians in Jefferson, Shelby, and Saint Clair counties, making it the largest social service agency in Central Alabama.

There are three Salvation Army Worship Service Centers in the metropolitan Birmingham area. They are location in Downtown Birmingham (called the "614"), Alabaster, and Bessemer. These "Corps" allow many in those communities to worship and help out in their comunities.

The Salvation Army provides 24 hour, 7 days a week support for the Greater Birmingham Area. Whether dispatching its mobile canteen to feed and counsel workers and victims in times of disaster, or providing a haven for substance abusers to recover from addictions and the homeless to find accommodation and jobs, The Birmingham Salvation Army has been there to provide hope.