Merthyr Tydfil
From Sawiki
| Merthyr Tydfil |
 |
| Territory: United Kingdom Territory |
| Division: South & Mid Wales Division |
| Opened: 1878 |
| Corps Number: N/A |
| Location: Glebeland Place, CF47 8BH |
| Current Officers: Captains Neil & Elizabeth Duquemin |
On a February day in the year 1878 Kate Watts and Harriet Parkin two young evangelists, arrived in Merthyr Tydfil for the purpose of establishing a branch of a new religious organisation known as the Christian Mission. The two lady evangelists were succeeded by Mrs Sayers and Miss Smith and during their tenure the name of the organisation was changed to the now more familiar title of the Salvation Army
In those early days meetings were held at various locations however in 1904 the corps acquired the church from the Morlais Baptist Church who by then had moved to another building. These premises where used to hold meetings until 1925 when the building became unsafe because of flood damage.
Between 1925 and 1937 the meetings were held at different venue many of which were local churches. In 1937 a new Citadel was opened one of the people who were asked to lay memorial stones at that time was Mrs Colonel Taylor (nee Kate Watts) who was one of the two original evangelists.
The citadel of the present day has been extensively modernised at a cost of £250,000 and still continues to serve the community for which it was founded to this present day.
The Songster brigade was formed around 1908 the first Songster Leader was Captain Rogers. The Songsters have in the past visted several corps in England Wales Ireland and the Channel Islands.One such occasion was taking part in a mass songster’s festival in the Royal Albert Hall.
The band was formed around 1880 and was led by Mr Israel Price (Senior) these pioneer bandsmen found difficulty in deciphering the music symbols and making music with the weird collection of instruments they had obtained from local pawn shops.
It is a credit to these bandsmen and to subsequent bandsmen and bandmasters that the band as survived two world wars and the years of industrial depression to this present day. The band in the past has visited several other corps in England Wales Ireland and the Channel Islands.
