The Salvation Army Chatham

This week-end Chatham Corps played host to the Coventry City Band (Bandmaster Huw Ellis). The undoubted highlight of the week-end was when the home and visiting bands joined together in a march of witness and held an open air meeting in the High Street. Many people stopped to listen to the message and several people (and a dog) accepted the invitation to join us back at the Citadel later in the day.

Panoramic view of open air meeting

The meetings were led by newly appointed Band Sergeant Claire Whitmore and her husband, Paul. The theme over the whole weekend was ‘Superheroes’ and this was supported by a very unusual programme of predominantly non-Army/Christian works which included ‘The James Bond Collection’, ‘Variations on a Welsh theme’, ‘Pirates of the Caribbean’, ‘Toccata in D minor’, ‘Czardas’ and ‘Soul Bossa Nova’ in support of the band’s theme.

The band’s musical highlight came in the form of Edward Gregson’s ever popular ‘Laudate Dominum’ featuring the tune ‘O Worship the Lord, All Glorious Above’.

During the week-end the Chatham Songsters added greatly to the meetings with their heartfelt renditions of ‘Church on Fire’, A Jubilant Song’ and great blessing was felt on Sunday as they sang ‘Before the Cross’.

We thank God for all the blessings of the week-end, the continued use of the mercy seat, the witness in the streets, the contacts made and the people brought into the Citadel for the first time, – and also the lovely weather in which to enjoy it all.

Some more views of the Open Air witness.