Day 96: Praying for Skewen (1969)

Join with Salvationists of the Wales Division for day 96 of 150 days of prayer.

• 'Sing to praise the Lord's great name! Every day, tell people the message that he has rescued us’ (Psalm 96:2, EasyEnglish Bible). 

1969

The Investiture of Prince Charles (now King Charles III) as Prince of Wales took place at Caernarvon Castle on 1 July 1969. A headline in the 28 June War Cry had declared, ‘Good health and every blessing in the future to the Prince of Wales’. A brief message followed: 

‘From the early beginnings of our Movement the Salvationists of Wales have always retained a great affection and loyalty to the Crown. Their exultation and unbounded admiration will be enthusiastically displayed to our Prince on this happy day. May “The Prince of Peace” honour and bless the ceremony, and the fervent prayers of Welsh Salvationists everywhere will be, “Long live the Prince of Wales”.’

The same War Cry included a message from the Secretary of State for Wales, the Right Honourable George Thomas MP:

‘The Salvation Army is a much-admired movement in Wales. Its work of witness and welfare has endeared its followers to the Welsh people, winning their respect and affection.

‘It is a movement that believes in practicing what it preaches; its work in the social field is so well known that like so many other good things it is almost taken for granted. I am very pleased, therefore, to have this opportunity to put on record my own unbounded admiration for the work The Salvation Army does, not only in Wales, but throughout the world, and to send my greetings to its followers and supporters everywhere.

‘The Salvation Army has never held back when disaster has overtaken a Welsh community or in times of distress. It is fitting that it should now join us in our celebrations of the Investiture of His Royal Highness, Prince Charles. Greetings and good wishes to you all.’

Later in the year, a sponsored walk from London to Skewen raised funds for a new hall. When the opening and dedication of the hall took place in March 1972, the brochure recorded what had happened:

‘From the warmth of a lovely June evening, the building committee, realising the need to raise a large sum of money quickly, agreed to a suggestion from one of the committee men to hold a sponsored walk from London to Skewen, a distance of about 193 miles, with the intention of raising a possible £1,000. The walk was arranged from Thursday 4th September to Monday 8th September 1969 with four participants namely: Brothers Elwyn and Ken Batt, Bram Knuckey and Don Lewis.

‘General Frederick Coutts was at the International Headquarters to send them on their way and so began the long trek home. They were accompanied by a car and averaged 40 miles a day. Being supplied with meals on route and staying with fellow Salvationists, they arrived home at midnight and for the last few miles were accompanied by the corps flag being carried in front of them. A fantastic reception awaited them and hundreds of people, despite the late hour, lined the main road to welcome and cheer them back. Each participant was interviewed and photographed before proceeding to the hall for a well-earned foot bath. The amount raised considerably succeeded the original target.’

Anecdotally, the HTV cameras were waiting for the walkers at Hirwaun and one of the number who had been using a walking stick for the previous two days threw the stick away when he saw the cameras!

Prayer

• Pray for the Salvationists at Skewen Corps as they continue to bring Jesus to their community.