Find a Salvation Army corps near you
Use your location to see churches nearby, and look for corps, citadel or Salvation Army in the name.
A church with military metaphors
William Booth was a Methodist minister who took the gospel to the poorest streets of Victorian London, and the movement he founded kept the language of an army on campaign. Congregations are corps, buildings are often called citadels or halls, ministers are officers with ranks such as captain and major, and committed members are soldiers who may wear uniform. Members sign a covenant called the Articles of War, promising among other things to abstain from alcohol. None of this is required of visitors; the military dress simply marks those who have made the commitment.
The Army's theology is Wesleyan and evangelical: salvation through faith in Christ, holiness of life, and practical love of neighbour. Distinctively, the Army does not practise baptism or communion as rituals, believing the inward reality matters more than the outward sign. Worship therefore centres on singing, testimony, prayer and preaching.
What a Sunday meeting is like
- Time. The main worship meeting is usually Sunday morning around 10:30 or 11am, with some corps holding an afternoon or evening meeting.
- Music. Brass banding is a cherished tradition, and larger corps also have songster brigades, the Army's choirs. Smaller corps may use a piano or worship band. Congregational singing is enthusiastic.
- Tone. Informal, joyful and family-like. Testimonies, where members share what God has done in their lives, are a regular feature.
- Preaching. A practical Bible message, often with an open invitation to respond in prayer at the mercy seat, the bench at the front. Responding is always voluntary.
- Welcome. Corps are small enough that a visitor is spotted and looked after. Expect a cup of tea and genuine conversation afterwards.
Faith expressed in service
The Army's founding conviction was that you cannot preach to someone with an empty stomach, summed up in its slogan of soup, soap and salvation. In the UK today it is one of the largest providers of homelessness services outside government, runs food banks and debt advice at many corps, supports survivors of modern slavery, operates older people's care and addiction services, and traces missing family members. Many corps buildings are busy every day of the week with community programmes. If practical help is part of what you are looking for in a church, see also our list of churches with food banks.
Frequently asked questions
Do I have to wear a uniform or sign anything?
No. Uniforms are for soldiers and officers who have chosen that commitment. Visitors and regular attenders, called friends or adherents, simply come as they are, and many people worship with the Army for years without formal membership.
Is the Salvation Army really a church?
Yes, a full Christian denomination with its own congregations, ministers and international structure, present in over 130 countries. Its charitable work flows out of its worship, not instead of it.
How do I find my nearest corps?
Use the finder above or browse your county in the directory. Most towns of any size have a corps, usually in a hall near the town centre, and listings show meeting times and contact details.