William Booth's army of blood and fire

William Booth was born in Nottingham in 1829 into a family where wealth, education and religion were in short supply.

In his early teens he started work and at the age of fifteen came to faith in Christ in a Methodist chapel. He wrote in his diary: "God shall have all there is of William Booth."

Shortly afterwards he encountered open public evangelistic meetings with lively songs, a powerful message and an ‘altar call’. Sensing this was where his calling lay, Booth began open-air evangelism, particularly amongst the poor. There was no shortage of opportunity.

As a result of the Industrial Revolution vast numbers of people headed into the towns seeking work. The resulting crowded, unsanitary and impoverished slums were full of social problems. But, with few exceptions, the established churches were formal and middle-class, and did not get involved.

Booth became a Methodist minister but felt drawn to a purely evangelistic ministry. He met Catherine Mumford and they married in 1855. It was to be the most supportive and productive of marriages: they had eight children, most of whom became leaders in the Salvation Army.

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