What is The Salvation Army?
The Salvation Army is a Christian church and registered charity seeking to share the good news of Jesus and nurture committed followers of him. We also serve people without discrimination, care for creation and seek justice and reconciliation. We offer practical support and services in more than 700 centres throughout the UK. Go to salvationarmy.org.uk/find-a-church to find your nearest centre.
What is the War Cry?
The Salvation Army first published a newspaper called the War Cry in London in December 1879, and we have continued to appear every week since then. Our name refers to our battle for people’s hearts and souls as we promote the positive impact of the Christian faith and The Salvation Army’s fight for greater social justice.
WAR CRY
Issue No 7645
Editor: Andrew Stone, Major
Deputy Editor: Philip Halcrow
Production Editor: Ivan Radford
Assistant Editor: Sarah Olowofoyeku
Staff Writer: Emily Bright
Staff Writer: Claire Brine
Editorial Assistant: Linda McTurk
Graphic Designer: Rodney Kingston
Graphic Designer: Mark Knight
Email: warcry@salvationarmy.org.uk
The Salvation Army United Kingdom and Ireland Territory 101 Newington Causeway London
SE1 6BN
Tel: 0845 634 0101
Subscriptions: 01933 445445 (option 1, option 1) or email: subscriptions@satcol.org
Founder: William Booth
General: Lyndon Buckingham
Territorial Commander: Commissioner Anthony Cotterill
Editor-in-Chief: Major Julian Watchorn
WALFORD watchers have been discovering more about the pasts of Ian and long-lost Cindy. So has Queen Vic barman George, who suddenly met Cindy, his ex, in Albert Square.
In an interview in this issue of the War Cry, EastEnders actor Colin Salmon speaks about how George must try to make sense of the recent revelations.
As well as talking about his on-screen character, Colin tells us about his acting career. He describes how he discovered his love of performing when he was a boy attending a Salvation Army church. He joined its young people’s band and choir and enjoyed making music with them in worship services.
‘I think my ability to perform today comes from what I learnt at The Salvation Army,’ he says. ‘I was performing every Sunday. It was a place that taught me about stagecraft.’
But George learnt more than performance skills while attending The Salvation Army. Though he says he is no longer a churchgoing Christian, he remembers listening to the sermons and learning that it’s possible for people in need of redemption to change. He says that the way the congregation cared for people who were experiencing homelessness was ‘a big lesson’ for him ‘that we don’t turn our backs on anyone’. He describes it as ‘a kind place’.
June Whitehouse also talks in this issue of making an important discovery when she connected with a place of worship. At a time when she was concerned about her daughter who was suffering kidney problems, she was prompted to attend church. ‘Suddenly I had friends at church who would listen to me, love me when I was crying or come down and see me in the house,’ she says. ‘They’d pray for me, and that used to build me up.’
People in congregations know themselves that they sometimes get things wrong. But up and down the country Salvation Army and other churches are exploring and trying to live out the teachings of Jesus – making them places worth discovering.