The Salvation Army, Parramatta

The Salvation Army, Parramatta
General information
Coordinates 33°48′48″S 151°00′25″E / 33.8133921°S 151.0070133°E / -33.8133921; 151.0070133

The Salvation Army, Parramatta (often abbreviated to PSA) is a Salvation Army Corps located in the Parramatta, New South Wales, Australia. It is the 75th oldest active Salvation Army Corps in Australia. [1] Situated in the western suburbs of Sydney, it has survived two arson attacks , been led by some of the most prominent Australian Salvation Army officers of the modern era, and has actively ministered to the people of Parramatta and the surrounding regions since 1884.

History

The Salvation Army's ministry in Parramatta started in September 1884, at the corner of Church and Argyle Streets. In 1919, the first permanent church building was opened in George Street, opposite the Roxy Theatre.[2]

In 1969, after compulsory land acquisition by Parramatta City Council, Parramatta Salvation Army moved to a new site at 34 Smith Street, Parramatta. Over the years, this site housed the main citadel, an auxiliary hall, church office space, Divisional Headquarters, Christian bookstore, and community welfare services.

In 1973, the Corps was subject to two arson attacks. The first, in January, caused approximately $30,000 damage and saw the Corps unable to use their buildings fully until May of that year. The second, in September, caused a further $16,000 damage.

On 14th January 2018, Granville Corps officially merged with Parramatta Corps. In March 2018, The Salvation Army vacated their Smith Street and began the move to 426 Church Street, North Parramatta. [3] While the new facility is being renovated, Sunday and Friday activities are being held at 60 Good Street, Graville (former home of Granville Corps).

Music Sections

The Salvation Army - Parramatta has a number of music sections, including Brass Band, Contemporary Worship Ensemble, Songsters, and junior groups. These serve the primary purpose of supporting corporate worship.

Brass Band

Parramatta Citadel Band (PCB), part of Parramatta Salvation Army, is a typical Salvation Army Band with a membership of approximately 30-35 people. It has existed uninterrupted for close to a century. The bands purpose is to minister the word of God to the people of Parramatta and its surrounding area's through the use of music found in the Salvation Army Brass Band Tune Books. They also commonly use arranged music of both secular and Christian origin for open-airs and concerts. The motto of the Band is derived from psalm 150: "Praise Him with Melody."[4]

Songsters

The ‘Songsters’ have been a long-standing fixture of the Parramatta Corps. Songsters are a four-part choral group that aim to bring the message of Jesus Christ to those that don't know him and also bless the congregation each Sunday through song. The songsters are supported by a small ensemble of musicians on instruments including piano, bass guitar, and drums.

As well as local ministry, the group has toured in areas such as Asia (June 2001), Perth (2006), and other New South Wales regional centres such as Tamworth and Dubbo. The group also sings within the community at Christmas time, sharing carols and Christmas songs in shopping centres and carol services.

The following Soldiers have held the role of 'Songster Leader' since 1969:

  • Errol Grice
  • Ross Duncan
  • Jim Muir
  • Margaret Poore
  • Murray Mayday
  • Matthew Pethybridge
  • Nicola Poore
  • Tannie Kwong

YP Band

The Standard of The Salvation Army, of which the YP Band marches under.

The Parramatta YP (Young Peoples) Band is a brass band and was formed in 1944, its main objective is to provide a medium in which young people can worship God (through the playing of brass instruments) and also partake in fellowship with other like-minded young men and women. The band is made up of young people ranging from ages 7 to 23.

The Parramatta YP Band has toured all around New South Wales, this usually consists of a Saturday night concert, followed by a worship service at the local Salvation Army Corps on the Sunday morning.

Children's Ministry

The Children's Ministry has been given the title of YP (or "young people"). The YP is overseen by the Young People's Sergeant Major (or YPSM), which is currently Carissa Ainsworth.

Parramatta Corps provides groups for both children and adolescents. These groups are often led by Soldiers of the Corps and include:

  • Mini God Squad is held on Sundays prior to the morning meeting and is often involves games, activities, music and Bible stories for children from 2 years of age until they complete year 2 at school. It is a basic introduction to Christianity.
  • God Squad is held prior to the meeting on Sunday. It aims to teach the values of the Christian faith and often involves games and live music for children of primary school age. The live music is of a contemporary nature and features songs from current Christian groups. It is sung by the children with an accompaniment of drums, bass guitar and electric guitar.

Junior Soldiers

Junior Soldiers is held during the morning meeting on a Sunday morning, the children usually attend the "worship segment" of the meeting and then depart to a separate part of the Citadel. It is an age-specific discipleship model for children aged 5–14 years and aims to increase the children's knowledge and understanding of Bible truth as well as The Salvation Army's doctrines and history.

The program consists of a weekly teaching time and an award scheme. The award work allows the Junior Soldiers to complete tasks that help them to understand how they can daily live out their Christian faith. Every Corps is compelled to have someone to oversee this program, this person is formally known as the Junior Soldier Sergeant.

The Current Junior Soldier Sergeant is James Lloyd, he has been in this position since early 2005.

Parramatta Salvation Army Football Club

A Generals player in action

Parramatta Corps was home of the Parramatta Salvation Army Football Club, the Generals, a member club of the New South Wales Churches Football Association.[5] They were a Senior team that played in the NSWCFA's Raahauge Cup 1. Little is known about the history of the club other than that it has existed in several stints over the past 30 years. The records that are available indicate that Parramatta Salvation Army, as they were known then, tasted success in 1992, as All-Age Division 4 Runners-up and in 1994, as All-Age Division 3 Premiers. On both these occasions the teams were under the coaching of Arthur Hodge.

The football club was revived in 2006 and took on the moniker The Generals.[6]

See also

References

  1. ↑ https://salvos.org.au/about-us/our-story/our-history/local-history/gwst/parramatta-granville/small-beginnings/
  2. ↑ https://salvos.org.au/about-us/our-story/our-history/local-history/gwst/parramatta-granville/small-beginnings/
  3. ↑ https://salvos.org.au/parramatta/contact-us/our-history/
  4. ↑ PCB performing at Sydney Congress Hall
  5. ↑ "List of Clubs". New South Wales Churches Football Association. 2012. Retrieved 16 May 2015.
  6. ↑ Generals Executive's
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