Corps History
The Salvation Army commenced operations in Lismore in January 1891 when two Salvationists William Gray and George Guy from Kempsey held the first Salvation Army meeting in the street in front of a big crowd. The curious crowd followed the gathering to the packed hired Protestant Hall.
Meetings continued for the next four months until the corps - number 308 - was officially opened in May of 1891with Captain Maggie Doland and Lieutenant Gayland becoming the first officers in charge.
Those first open air meetings and street marches attracted a lot of attention, often difficulty being experienced in forming a ring to conduct an open air meeting because of the crowds.
However there was early opposition to the Army's presence, sometimes the Salvationists were pelted with rotten eggs and raw meat. A 'skeleton army' was formed and while the Salvationists marched on one side of the street the skeleton army marched on the other side. They even formed a ring and commenced a 'service', with their own captain, lieutenant and a drum, and learned to sing the Army choruses.
Gradually the skeleton army tired of its tactics and the Salvationists had the joy of seeing the conversion of its 'captain' and many others of the group.
Captain William Minnis, the corps officer in 1892, was prosecuted by the local council, charged with 'standing up, kneeling down, praying in the street.' The police magistrate described the charge as ridiculous and it was eventually dismissed.
In 1908 the first Salvation Army hall was opened in Magellan Street. In 1935 a new hall was built in Molesworth Street, and on November 29, 1997, a new complex in Cambridge Drive, Goonellabah, was officially opened.
The Lismore Salvation Army band was formed in 1892 with Harry Coyte the first bandmaster. When the band instruments were silver plated in 1923 it became known as the Salvation Army Silver Band.
The Lismore Salvation Army Home League was formed in 1917 and branches were established at Ruthven in 1957, Rosebank in 1959 and at Cubawee near Tuncester in 1960.
Lismore corps outposts were formed at Ruthven, Rosebank, Tuntable Falls and Pearces Creek, the latter continuing for over a century. The Lismore corps continues to be part of the Pearces Creek Christmas Eve carols night and supports the hall's annual Harvest Festival.
The corps can claim a direct association with one of the Army's world leaders, the late General Eva Burrows, who spent her childhood years in Lismore while her parents were in charge of the Army's North Coast work during the 1930s depression years.
Assistance during times of natural disasters is well documented in corps history books, probably the most notable occasion being the 2017 Lismore flood which saw the corps working with affected individuals and businesses for several months - even when the corps sustained major damage to its own facilities in the central business district.
Our Leaders for 129 years – Lismore Corps Officers 1891 – 2020
1891 Captain M. Doland, Lt G. Gayland
1891 Adj. Maddock, Lts. White & Goldsworthy
1892 Captain Perry, Lts. Duist & Ellis
1892 Captain Harrison, Lt. Armstrong, Captain Minnis
1892 Captain & Mrs. A. Waters
1893 Captain & Mrs. W. Hooker, Lts. Bowes & Tindale
1894 Captain J. Bauch, Captain J. Rose, Lt. R. Kent
1895 Captain Turvey & Lt. Edwards
1896 Captain Kells, Captain J. Ford, Lt. Frost
1897 Ensign A. Mytton, Lt. L. Rixon
1898 Lt. T. Garland, Ensign & Mrs. Hensen, Ensign &
Mrs. Hildrek
1899 Captain Sinclair, Lt. Searle
1900 Captain & Mrs. Phillips, Captain & Mrs. Bull
1901 Captain Humbley , Captain Garland
1902 Captain Alexander
1903 Lt. Pembarthy, Ensign & Mrs. Hildreth
1904 Adjutant & Mrs. J. Timmons
1905 Lt. H. Graham
1906 Captain & Mrs. Symington, Lts. Cooper & Norris
1907 Captain A. Penberthy, Lt. Palmer, Captain Rixon,
Captain & Mrs. Howard, Captain D. Hawkins
1908 Ensign L. Hawks
1909 Adj. A. Haines, Captain J. Johnson, Captain &
Mrs. Ward, Lt. Woodcock
1910 Adjutant Drury, Lts. Pegg & Jacka
1911 Adjutant J. Hines, Lt. F. Bastian, Lt. T. Martins
1912 Adjutant E. Hilder, Captain D. Marsh
1913 Adjutant & Mrs. F. Watkins
1914 Adjutant & Mrs. D. Wemyss
1916 Adjutant & Mrs. J. Dawson
1917 Captain & Mrs. L. Stranks
1919 Adjutant & Mrs. D. Atkins
1921 Commandment & Mrs. T. Herron
1922 Adjutant & Mrs. S. Hunt
1924 Ensign & Mrs. Inglis
1926 Adjutant & Mrs. G Franks
1927 Adjutant & Mrs. F. Turner
1928 Ensign & Mrs. E. Clark
1929 Ensign & Mrs. Eldridge
1931 Ensign & Mrs. Burrows
1933 Adjutant & Mrs. Tamina
1934 Captain & Mrs. G. Myers
1936 Captain W. Fletcher, Lt. E. Hutchinson
1937 Captain W, Fletcher, Lt. Avery, Captain Bolton
1938 Adjutant & Mrs. Gates
1940 Adjutant & Mrs. D. Austin
1941 Major & Mrs. Howarth
1943 Adjutant & Mrs. Jennings
1945 Captain & Mrs. Godkin
1946 Captain & Mrs. R. Herron, Adjut. & Mrs. T. Higgins
1947 Major & Mrs. A. Unicomb
1950 Captain & Mrs. L. Crown
1951 Captain & Mrs. K. Patterson
1952 Major & Mrs. H. Woodland
1953 Major & Mrs. W. Dawkins
1956 Major & Mrs. N. Packer, Major & Mrs. C. Ivins
1960 Major & Mrs. N. Gilbert
1964 Major & Mrs. N. Young
1967 Major & Mrs. W, Johns
1970 Major & Mrs. G. Fletcher
1972 Captain & Mrs. N. Reeves
1975 Captain & Mrs. K. Hunter
1976 Captain & Mrs. M. Rowlands
1979 Major & Mrs. P. Walker
1981 Major & Mrs. W. Spence
1985 Majors Phillip & Nancy McLaren & Lt. Stephen McLeod (1989)
1990 Captains Colin & Sharon Stoodley
1991 Lts. Kelvin & Julie Alley & Lt. Robyn Rudd
1996 Lts. Edwin & Daphne Cox
1999 Captains Graham & Christine Tamsett
2000 Majors Alan & Jenny Peterson
2002 Majors Russell & Betty Adams
2004 Captains Robert & Leanne Duncan
2005 Captains Phil & Gwen Sharp
2010 Captain Lindsay & Lt. Jenny Reeves
2018 Majors David & Meryl Cook
2019 Capt. Philip & Donna Sutcliffe