Salvation Army meeting place - Commerce Street, Longton in the 1950's

Salvation Army meeting place - Commerce Street, Longton in the 1950's

photo: Harold Gallimore

Gypsy Smith

A revival broke out in the Potteries, being centred in Hanley around a remarkable man, Gypsy Rodney Smith. He was a young Salvation Army evangelist aged 21, married, with a baby son. Smith had already experienced considerable success in places like Hull, and now arrived in Hanley on the last day of 1881, having asked General William Booth to send him, "...to the nearest place to the bottomless pit."

Gypsy Smith began his work with an open-air meeting in the market square in Hanley on New Year's Day, 1882. Initially progress was slow, but within six months the Gypsy had gained a considerable following in the area. Meetings were held at what was then called "Batty Circus," a large, wooden barn occupying the site of the present Webberley's Book Shop. Nine services took place between Saturday and Sunday evenings, and crowds of up to 8,000 people assembled to hear the gypsy preach.

After some problems, Gypsy Smith was dismissed from the Salvation Army but remained in Hanley for several years with great success. It was here that he was moulded into an evangelist who was to bring revival all over the world. The Gypsy remembered Hanley with great affection, naming his second son after the town. He often said, "To the end of my life, the name of that town will always arouse joy in my heart and an amazing revelation of what God hath wrought."

It should not be thought, however, that the revival he enjoyed did not spread to others in the area. The inter-denominational "Hanley Testimonial Committee" were able to write in 1888, "The work has spread, the churches have been quickened, and at the present time in most of the towns and villages in the district successful mission work is carried on."

The Salvation Army in Stoke-on-Trent

The Salvation Army in Stoke-on-Trent

LONGTON. A Salvation Army barracks in Stafford Street was registered for worship in October 1884. It was probably superseded in December of the same year by a barracks in Stone (now Lightwood) Road, which was closed in 1910 on the opening of the Salvation Army Hall in Commerce Street.

FENTON. The Primitive Methodist Chapel in Canning Street was registered for worship by the Salvation Army in 1885, but was superseded in 1912 by the Salvation Army Citadel in Fountain Street.

former Salvation Army Citadel, Fountain Street, Fenton

STOKE. A Salvation Army barracks in Wharf Street was registered for worship in 1895. In 1916 it was superseded by a Salvation Army hall at 30 Cross Street, Stoke. In the same year the group moved back to a building in Wharf Street and in 1932 to the present hall in Fletcher Road, Stoke. The Divisional Headquarters of the Army for North Staffordshire is in Church Street, Stoke.

STOKE, BOOTHEN. A mission room was registered for worship by the Salvation Mission in 1892. The registration was cancelled in 1922.

HANLEY, GLASS STREET. Batty's Circus in Tontine Street was registered for worship by the Salvation Army in 1881. It was probably superseded in 1882 by the Imperial Circus, Glass Street, which in turn gave way in 1903 to the present Salvation Army Citadel in Glass Street.

former Salvation Army Citadel, Glass Street, Hanley

HANLEY, NEW HALL STREET. A Salvation Army barracks in New Hall Street was registered for worship in 1889. It had ceased to be used by 1903.

HANLEY, JOINER'S SQUARE. A Salvation Army hall in Palmerston Street was registered for worship in 1932. It was still in use in 1958.

BURSLEM, CORPORATION STREET. A mission room in Corporation Street was registered for worship by the Salvation Mission in 1883. It had ceased to be used by 1884.

BURSLEM, MOORLAND ROAD. A mission hall in Moorland Road was registered for worship by the Salvation Mission in 1884. It had ceased to be used by 1896.

BURSLEM, MIDDLEPORT. A Salvation Army hall in Brindley Street was registered for worship in 1903. The registration was cancelled in 1906.

BURSLEM, WESTPORT ROAD. A Salvation Army temple in Hall Street was registered for worship in 1903. This was replaced in 1914 by a Salvation Army temple in Newcastle Street, and in 1933 the latter was superseded by the Salvation Army Hall, 12 Westport (formerly Liverpool) Road.

TUNSTALL, SNEYD STREET. A Salvation Army barracks, later designated a hall, in Sneyd Street (now Ladywell Road) was registered for worship in 1882.

TUNSTALL, GOLDENHILL. A Salvation Army hall at 34 High Street was registered for worship in 1933. The registration was cancelled in 1941.

SMALLTHORNE. A Salvation Army hall in Camp Road was registered for worship in 1925.

From: 'The city of Stoke-on-Trent: Protestant Nonconformity',
A History of the County of Stafford: Volume 8 (1963)

Salvation Army The Strand, Longton - built in the 1960's

photo: Harold Gallimore