our history
Foundations
When Wilson Carlile's personal fortune was wiped out by the depression of 1873, the successful silk merchant gave his life over to God. After training as an Anglican priest, Carlile sparked controversy in 1880 by introducing picture shows into his church service. Soon the church was packed with common people from the streets of Kensington, in London's inner-west.
Carlile formed the Church Army in 1882 and moved to the nearby slums of Westminster. At his open-air meetings hundreds committed their lives to Christ. Soon former criminals and addicts were declaring the saving power of Jesus to huge crowds. Undeterred by accusations of 'dragging the church into the gutter', Carlile urged his workers to 'go for the worst'.
Despite evangelists being pelted with stones and beaten, the Church Army grew rapidly, training hundreds of ordinary folk and deploying them as evangelists to churches across England. Carlile commissioned mobile evangelism teams, living in caravans and moving from village to village. Homes and shelters established for alcoholics and the destitute.
Since then the ministry has spread to the US, Canada, Australia, New Zealand, Africa and Scandinavia. For 125 years God has used Church Army to transform the lives of 'the least, the last and the lost'.
Australia
It is 1932. Capt. John Cowland boards a ship in England, and sails halfway round the globe, in response to a call from the Australian Church to lead an evangelistic mission. His team of 10 travels to every Australian state and territory and reaps a great harvest of souls on behalf of the church.
The result of Cowland's campaign was unanimous support from every Australian Bishop to establish the Church Army in Australia. For the past 70 years the Church Army has been serving the Australian Church with a focus on conversion, consecration and committed church membership.
Church Army began in London in 1882. Founder, Wilson Carlile, was known as the "Archbishop of the Gutter" and the "Apostle to the Outsider". His personal motto was "Go for the worst". His heart resonated deeply with God's heart for the least, the last and the lost!
A lot has changed since 1882, or even 1932, but one things remains constant: "Jesus Christ is the same yesterday, today and forever." And he calls ordinary men and women to be his hands and feet in a hurting world.
for more information ...
Click below to download a pdf article on the history of Church Army by Steve Addison.
