Torquay's Other History: The Salvation Army Riots

Have you seen this column on TalkTorbay? Torquay's Other History by Kevin Dixon.

Kevin has posted some fantastic stories about the history of Torquay...check it out, you'll be surprised!

The link attached will take you to his latest post about the Salvation Army Riots

Here's a little snippet:

During 1888, Torquay experienced a sustained challenge to established authority. Bizarrely, this followed the arrival in town of the Salvation Army.

The Salvation Army is an evangelical Christian Church, founded in London’s East End in 1865 by William and Catherine Booth. It was modelled after the military, with its own flag and its own music, often using Christian words to the popular tunes sung in pubs.

Torquay became a focus for Salvationist activity due to its prohibition of processions accompanied by music on Sundays. In January 1888 Torquay police charged the Salvation Army band with infringing these regulations. The Corps Commander, the bandmaster and several bandsmen were fined but refused to pay and were jailed. On February 3, eleven more were summonsed for the same offence.

For more information visit http://talktorbay.com/torquay%E2%80%99s-other-history-the-salvation-army-riots