Day 104: Praying for passion for our local communities (1977)

29 September 2024

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Join with Salvationists of the Wales Division for day 104 of 150 days of prayer.

'All my life, I will sing to praise the Lord. I will always sing songs to praise my God, for as long as I live. I want my song to make him happy. I will be happy, because of what the Lord has done' (Psalm 104:33-34, EasyEnglish Bible).

1977

Lieut-Colonel George Pilkington (R) recalls the early days of Rhyl Corps:

‘Majors Doris Langley and Maggie Singleton had been in a car accident and were out of an appointment. When they were feeling better, they asked if they could visit Salvationists who lived in North Wales, which was agreed.

‘One of those Salvationists had moved from Romford to Rhyl for work. He attended churches in uniform and met other Salvationists. He was the instigator of a gathered community that initially met for worship in his home. He wrote to the divisional commander, Major William Layton, based in Liverpool. He informed the major that worship was now taking place in the town’s silver band room in Windsor Steet, which was being hired. (This is where The Salvation Army hall is now located.) He requested that an officer come to preach. This is the point where local initiative and central leadership came together. Majors Doris Langley and Maggie Singleton were appointed to Rhyl.

‘Captains George and Vera Pilkington were appointed to Rhyl on 2 June 1977. The British Commissioner, Geoffrey Dalziel, was an ardent encourager from London to us as officers and the corps people… The joy of new converts, together with more Salvationists coming to live in the area, resulted in numerical growth and an increase in programme activities. Summer open-air ministry would see meetings on the seafront with hundreds listening, one of the attractions being a soldier who sang in Welsh accompanied on her guitar. The first bilingual wedding in the corps took place when she married.’