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Individual Summary Histories of 
The Churches in Otley - 2013

Salvation Army

The basis of this movement came when its Founder William Booth was to leave the Primitive Methodist group in 1865 to devote his work to the spiritual healing amongst the poor and deprived in the East End of London. This work gradually developed as the Christian Mission and eventually was transformed with the help of his wife, family and army of volunteers into the quasi-military organisation in 1878.

In 1882 a band of three score soldiers invaded and captured Otley under the command of Major Cadman. A local corps was established in an old leather factory across from the Maypole. It was the 73rd corps led by Captain William Hodgson. Within a week the premises were converted into a barracks to accommodate 750. Three weeks later the building was destroyed by arso, except for the ground floor which was saved by the fire brigade.

The work recommenced in September 1882 in the renovated leather factory. For a few years the barracks were based in a warehouse at the rear of No 8 Kirkgate. About 1900 the corps was housed in the basement and first floor of the former Primitive Methodist Chapel in Newmarket (which had been vacated in the 1870s). In 1923 the whole building was occupied as the Salvation Army Citadel.

General William Booth visited Otley twice in March 1902 and July 1907. In the latter year he came on one of his annual motorcades. A similar visit was made in June 1926 by his eldest son, Bramwell, who by then had succeeded his father as General

The Jubilee year of 1935 saw the Founder’s daughter ‘General Evangeline Booth’ pass through Otley on a motorcade. The newspaper reports tremendous crowds in the Market Square slowed her passage, giving her an opportunity to make an unscheduled stop to speak to them.

The suite of buildings was completely refurbished in 1995. Since then our work has gradually developed into one serving some of the needs in the community. This is reflected in our mission statement