The Salvation Army is a byword for philanthropy & charitable work, with its brass bands & uniformed officers indelible parts of the fabric of British life
- yet many may not be aware of the real extent of its work & influence. This is the story of how Reverend William Booth`s East London Christian Mission of 1865 (which became the Salvation Army in 1878) has become a truly global enterprise, one that in Britain is still second only to the government in the provision of social care. It is a symbol of charity that was forged in the crucible of mid-Victorian Britain & is now known in more than 120 countries, & Susan Cohen here explains & illustrates its activities & structures, its history & present, & its very important legacy.