Bedford
Salvation Army Citadel
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On Sunday 4th March 1888 the first Salvation Army meeting was held in Bedford. Following on from this Sunday meetings were held in a small upper room in Little Butt Street.
During 1888 plans had been made for the Salvation Army to have its own building and a site was obtained in River Street. On October 3rd 1888, the stone laying ceremony was held, during which the Founder, General William Booth, placed in position the keystone over the entrance. The architect for the building was Mr. G. Wallace of Northampton. On Saturday 24th February 1889 the Congress Hall was opened for public worship.
In 1977 the Old Congress Hall was demolished and replaced by The Howard Shopping Centre car park. The New Salvation Army Citadel was built just across the way in Commercial Road at a cost of £231,977
Sources
- The Newspaper Cuttings Collection, Local Studies Collection, Bedford Central Library.
- Bedford Congress Hall Jubilee 1888-1938 Souvenir Handbook. (A copy of the above publication is in The Heritage Library, Bedford Central Library.)
Salvation Army Citadel, Bedford by Bedfordshire Libraries, 2014
Page last updated: 7th May 2014