Charters Towers History
Although The Salvation Army no longer holds Sunday Services at Charters Towers, it has a rich history in the city and still has a presence with a Family Store and other services.
Opening Fire
The Salvation Army officially “opened fire” in Charters Towers on 20 June 1888, with its first officers Captain Arthur Smith and Lieutenant Jacobs. But Salvationists had visited the boom mining town much ea...
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Charters Towers was a roughshod miners town in the early days and the Salvation Army’s band marches and passionate street preaching wasn’t always greeted with enthusiasm. During some open-air meetings it&#x...
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Our home in Charters Towers
Such was the reputation and rapid growth of The Salvation Army, that in the 1890s Commissioner T.B Coombs travelled from Melbourne to lay the foundation for The Salvation Army’s first citadel, located on Hodgkinso...
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Expansion
Not content to sit still, the Charters Towers Salvationists quickly set forth to claim more ground for Christ! Salvation Army outposts were opened at Mosman Park, Millchester, Richmond Hill and Manners Street. Over time,...
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Charters Towers Greats - Fighting Mac
The Salvation Army’s Commissioner William McKenzie, OBE, known as “Fighting Mac” for his heroic service to ANZACs during the first world war, was stationed at Charters Towers in 1893 and 1894. During...
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Charters Towers Greats - Envoy John Robinson
Another Charters Towers “great” is Envoy John Robinson who served as bandmaster. He was also elected as an alderman to Charters Towers City Council in April 1933 and served the city for some years. (His bro...
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Charters Towers Greats - John Cook
John Cook served as the corps sergeant-major for many years was also an amazing Salvationist of the early 1900s. A report in The Salvation Army newspaper War Cry in 1908 states that he is one of the most enterprising Sal...
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The Salvation Army in Charters Towers today
The original Salvation Army hall has been sold to the local Baptist church, however, The Salvation Army still has a presence in Charters Towers today. A Family Store offers the community low-cost clothing and household g...
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