The history of the Salvation Army in Honiton

Margaret Lewis (outside the Honiton Museum) is keen for the building to host the town's new TIC. mhh 25-16TI 2287. Picture: Terry Ife (Image: Archant)

It all started in July 1882 when the Salvation Army started to hold meetings in a tent in a field at the top of Honiton High Street. Some residents supported their temperance cause and believed that drink and drunkenness were the root cause of society’s troubles.

On the other hand, many others believed in the right of workers and that they could drink as much as they wanted.

In the first month there were minor incidents during and after meetings.

A crowd were refused entrance, people and seats were overturned, and lamps smashed. A court appearance followed, and the defendant was ordered to pay a fine of 2s 6d.

The Salvation Army moved to the old British Schoolroom. Months of disturbances and riots followed.

In October George Wood the toll collector invited the Salvation Army to hold a service on a Sunday afternoon at his private house in Little Town.

The Army paraded through the town and a group of 700 people now calling themselves ‘The Skeleton Army’ tried to stop them by throwing mud, turnips, red ochre, flour bags and other missiles.

A fight ensued and many summonses for assault and damage were issued.

The Salvation Hall in Honiton was opened in November 1882 and three services were held on the first day. Before the evening meeting the Army paraded through New Street where someone threw water over them and before they entered the hall they were covered in flour.

At the end of the month the Salvation Army paraded with their band, and they were blocked by the hostile Skeleton Army carrying a red banner bearing the words 'down with fanatics'.

The police were called but they were powerless to stop the fighting and forty windows were broken. Over a thousand people were in the High Street and a great many of them sported black eyes.

The Chief Constable reported that during 1882, up to November there had been 264 arrests in Honiton.

More disturbances took place regularly in Honiton until 1884. In 1896 the Salvation Army were holding open air meetings in the yard between the Foundry and the White Lion.

It was there, two years later, that a grocer’s assistant was summoned for causing a disturbance during a service. He was fined £1 1s and allowed time to pay.