Black Sunday

The Salvation Army used to refer to Boughton as a "Stronghold of Satan" and in the early 1880's it was their habit to march from there on Sundays, after gathering at St Giles Cemetery. They ended their march at The Pavilion a former roller-skating rink near Chester Station. On the 26th March 1882, this led to a serious riot and Chester was shaken by what came to be known as "Black Sunday", during which the local Salvation Army marched through the Irish Catholic district around Steven Street, where it was attacked by a mob, of a type often said to be known as the Skeleton Army. The original Skeleton Army was a diffuse group often said to originally be from Weston-super-Mare (others have it originate in Exeter), active particularly in Southern England, that opposed and disrupted The Salvation Army's marches against alcohol in the late 19th century and became known for an attack in Bethnal Green in London. Clashes between the two groups led to the deaths of several Salvationists and injuries to many others.

Activity in the South
The history of the Salvation Army began in 1865, when former Methodist William Booth and his wife Catherine Mumford established an evangelical and philanthropic organisation to preach salvation from sins and propagate purity of life among the poor and destitute people of London's East End. The Salvation Army sought to bring salvation to the poor, destitute and hungry by meeting both their “spiritual and physical needs”. They were vehemently opposed to alcohol, smoking and gambling – which often caused resentment and hostility within the very communities that they were trying to save. The Booths had received invitations to preach in London. William began preaching outside the public house in Whitechapel Road, Bethnal Green, called The Blind Beggar, trying to save the souls of people that were not particularly welcomed by the established churches.

In late 1865, the Booths founded the Christian Revival Association, an independent religious association, which was soon renamed the East London Christian Mission. It was organised after the Wesleyan tradition and one of many such small groups in London. In 1867, the Christian Mission acquired the Eastern Star, a run-down beer shop, for 120 pounds, and turned it into its first headquarters known as the People's Mission Hall, which began to perform two functions: religious and social. It housed people for all-night prayer vigils, known as the Midnight Meeting movement, and also sold cheap food to the needy. The name "The Salvation Army" developed from an incident in May 1878. William Booth was dictating a letter to his secretary George Scott Railton and said, "We are a volunteer army." Bramwell Booth heard his father and said, "Volunteer, I'm no volunteer, I'm a regular!" Railton was instructed to cross out the word "volunteer" and substitute the word "salvation". The movement had evidently hit upon a formula which worked, grew rapidly and began to spread outside of London. The earliest reference to an organised opposition to The Salvation Army was in August 1880 in Whitechapel, when The "Unconverted Salvation Army" was founded with its flag and motto of "Be just and fear not".

The Salvationists had their rivals espousing a similar cause and somewhat surprisingly there were clashes. As reported in the North Wales Express, 8th April 1881:


 * "FIGHT BETWEEN THE SALVATION AND HALLELUJAH ARMIES.—A telegram from Iniskillen states that disturbances having occurred there between the Salvation and Hallelujah Armies the magistrates on Saturday proclaimed the town. The streets were cleared by the police, who had to charge the mob. The Riot Act was about to be read. Yesterday Aide-de-Camp Gillas, of the Hallelujah Army, was arrested under the terms of the proclamation, and went to goal singing and praying. A telegram from Basingtoke says:— The mayor has issued a proclamation, calling upon the Salvation Army to abstain from parading the streets, and cautioning people from loitering in the public thoroughfares on Sundays. Several of the licensed victuallers have hoisted the Union Jack, and great rejoicing prevails among the mob at the mayor's decision."

A grim - if well-intentioned - publication called "The Darkest England Gazette" was produced by the Salvationists, with the remit of "voicing the miseries and pleading the necessities" of those lured into music halls, which are described as "trapdoors to vice". The Salvationist ethos was not all restrictive - in addition to wanting to prohibit alcohol and prostitution, they gave equal status to women within the organisation.

Skeleton Army


Many sources state that in 1881, "Skeleton Armies", opposing the Salvationists, were raised in Whitechapel, Exeter and Weston-super-Mare, and the name was quickly taken up elsewhere as other groups were formed in the south of England. Wikipedia states that there are no records of Skeleton Armies north of London, but this article will argue the case for one in Chester. The dates are important, as they show that in Chester there was opposition to the Salvation Army from the time of their arrival and that their skirmish with the local "Skeleton Army" occurred very early in the cycle of riots associated with them.

The first appearance of the Skeleton Army appears to have been in Exeter in October 1881, where the Salvationists had arrived earlier that year and Captain Abram Davey had "opened fire". Davey was soon reporting a successful campaign and claimed to have “saved 300 sinners”, men and women of the worst type in Exeter, which he describes as “drunks and Magdalens” who now attend fully clothed and in their right minds. Opposition, possibly backed by local publicans, appeared quickly and in August 1881 the local paper reported a week of nightly disturbances. While it was generally believed that the Skeleton Army were "yobs", Exeter solicitor Edward Dent was reputedly the Lieutenant-General of the Skeleton Army. The Skeleton army had slogans which matched the Salvationists "Soup, Soap, Salvation" with "Beef, Beer, Bacca". Their flags displayed rats and coffins, proclaiming "Blood and Thunder" rather than the Salvationists "Blood and Fire". They appear to have had their own song-sheets and even gazettes (considered blasphemous or obscene, and now a rare collector's item). One mock version of a hymn had the words:




 * The Salvation Army we must drive, far, far away,
 * For cannibals to eat alive, far, far away,
 * We will pepper and salt them too,
 * And make them fit for a rare stew,
 * And old head shall sail with the crew,
 * Far, far away.

Matters flared up again in October, when the name "Skeleton Army" was first used. The disturbances grew in number and ferocity. On the 11th March 1882, the Mayor of Exeter Thomas Andrew (a publican) issued a proclamation which prohibited both the Salvation Army and their opponents The Skeleton Army from marching in the streets. Some Salvationists ignored this and other prohibitions and were arrested. If fined, they would refuse to pay and make a great show of being sent to prison. Booth visited Exeter at the end of 1884 and reported that more than 600 Salvationists had served prison sentences in England that year. At one point his daughter Eva Booth was convicted and served time in Exeter Prison. On her release she was met by the Exeter Salvation Army band and led in her convict’s uniform to the "Temple", where she conducted services that lasted until midnight.

Attacks on Salvation Army members spread across the country including, Weston-super-Mare, Honiton and Oxford. Some of the worst attacks occurred in 1884 in the south-coast resorts of Eastbourne, Hastings and Worthing, where members of existing Bonfire Societies were prominent in forming Skeleton Armies to rid their towns of The Salvation Army. Eventually, in August 1882, the Dragoons had to be called-out to help quell the violence.

The "riot" in Chester took place in March 1882, less then two weeks after the Mayoral proclamation in Exeter.

History in Chester
1881 was a notable year for religion in Chester as the tower of the original Cathedral, St Johns, collapsed on Good Friday. It was never rebuilt and the rubble was used to form part of the Groves.

The Salvation Army began in Chester in the winter of 1881-82, holding services initially at the Linenhall, and then at the Pavilion Skating Rink, opposite Chester Station (now Anfield's builders merchant). The earliest date that can be put to their activities in Chester is the 26th November 1881. The Army opened a barracks in Commonhall Street in 1889, but in 1896 was temporarily based at the Union Hall in Foregate Street. It returned to Commonhall Street in 1899. In 1908 or 1909 the Army moved to the Temperance Hall in George Street (a former Primitive Methodist chapel), and from there successively to wooden huts on the south side of Castle Street in 1950, a prefabricated hut at Northgate roundabout in 1973, and a newly built utilitarian headquarters in St. Anne Street, Newtown, in 1976.



Shortly after its arrival in Chester it gained the disapproval of Saughall inhabitants when it marched through the village on the 26th January 1882 singing loudly. The residents complained that:


 * “The Salvation Army are allowed nightly to parade streets shouting and singing.. ..to the serious inconvenience of the public. Let them conduct their services in the places they have taken for that purpose. They may there shout their war-whoops, do their marching, drill to their hearts content”.

A few days later a letter to the local press began:


 * "Sir, A detchment of the Salvation Army, now in this city, are allowed nightly to parade the streets shouting and singing, to the serious inconvenience of the public. If a man has a restive horse he must hold him fast by the heads to prevent him bolting on account of the noise."

Despite this, the Army’s popularity grew and their congregation always filled the Pavilion Skating Rink for each of the four Sunday services, even the early one at 7am. There were complaints of people missing trains due to the throngs in the street near the station, and even of people being carried unwillingly by the momentumn of the crowds into the Pavilion when trying to pass. Advice as to what to do when a horde of Salvationists approached included to huddle in a doorway until they had passed.

There were already widely-reported difficulties with locals at an early date: on 3rd December 1881 the Chepstow Argus reported:


 * "A serious disturbance has also taken place at Chester. A number of roughs obtained admission to the Pavilion Skating Rink, which the Salvation Army has secured as barracks, and when a Salvationist had sung a hymn to the tune of a popular song they enthusiastically encored her. In the meantime, some young men had managed to get on the iron roof of the building, and made a fearful noise bv beating it with brickbats. A window was smashed. The collecting box of one of the Army was kicked into the air. A general scramble for the money ensued, but eventually the box was recovered, and order was restored by the police."

There was further trouble at the end of December 1881, according again to the Chepstow Argus:


 * "A DISGRACEFUL now was commenced at Chester by a young Irishman, named Patrick Cafferty, at the Salvation Army service there. Tlrere were about 2000 persons present, and whenever a speaker got op to address them, Cafferty commenced to shout, whistle, and hoot. He was joined by a knot of fellows about him - the proceedings ultimately became so tumultuous that the Salvationists had to close the proceedings. Cafferty was given into custody, and afterwards brought before Sir Thos. G. Frost (the Mayor). After hearing the evidence Sir Thomas said, as that was the first offence of the sort in Chester, the prisoner would be let off with a fine of 20s. and costs, or fourteen days' imprisonment; but if those disturbances were renewed, prisoners would be much more severely dealt with. The Salvationists were doing useful work in Chester, in reclaiming drunken avid disorderly persons, and they should be protected in every possible way from the attacks of lawless men."

It is worth noting that this was only a month after the Salvationists arrived in Chester. February 1882 saw further trouble:


 * "At the Chester city police court, on Monday morning, Jeremiah Morris, Chester, and John Fletcher, Altringham, two-rough-looking men, were charged with creating a disturbance and assaulting an officer of the Salvation Army. The prisoners commenced larking and shouting during service on Sunday, and when remonstrated with, they struck the officer violently to the face. The Mayor (Sir Thomas Gibbons Frost) gave the prisoners 21 days imprisonment without the option of a fine."

Black Sunday


On Sunday 26 March 1882 the Salvationists gathered as usual at the drinking fountain at Boughton but instead of skirting the "worst" streets as they normally did, it was decided to parade right through the area, led by their Captain, Miss Miriam Falconbridge. Two policemen accompanied them. There appear to have been two copywriters for the circulated press reports.

In one vesion of the copy the press reported:


 * "On Sunday, the members of the Salvation Army at Chester were for the first time since they have taken up their quarters in that city attacked in a disgraceful manner. At the end of last week it was arranged that a procession of Salvationists should form on Sunday morning at the Broughton Fountain, and proceed through Boughton to the Skating Rink, where the services are held, and it is now stated that the chiefs of the police advised the leaders on Saturday night to take the procession through Bishop's Fields instead of through Broughton. However this may be, the army met at the place named, and, headed by the captain, Miss Falconbridge, paraded in processional order through Broughton, singing as they went. On reaching the entrance to Steven Street, they were met by a large mob of Broughton roughs, who attacked the unoffending Salvationists in a disgraceful manner-bricks, stones, rotten eggs, oranges, brushes, and all kinds of missiles being employed. The Salvationists neither provoked the attack nor, as far as could be judged, retaliated. During the disturbance, Police- sergeant Price was wounded by a stone. The attack was continued up to Seller Street, where Mr. Dutton, a prominent Salvationist, was also hurt; whilst on Seller-street Bridge, Miss Falconbridge received a severe cut in the forehead from a stone. She was taken to an adjoining house, where she remains under medical treatment. Not satisfied with this, the mob, to the number of from 400 to 500, made up principally of Stevens Street roughs, paraded Broughton through the afternoon, shouting and singing parodies on Salvationist hymns, carrying sticks and floor brushes with shawls to do the duty of flags. Afterwards they proceeded to the rink with the evident intention of renewing their attack and taking possession, but in this they were foiled by the precautions of Chief Constable Fenwick, and they had to satisfy themselves with throwing stones on the roof. Much sympathy is felt for Miss Falconbridge, and the action of the rowdies is universally condemned. The mob did not reach the rink within 100 yards in the afternoon, but were persuaded by the chief constable to return. Shortly afterwards, however, they indulged in a free fight amongst themselves opposite St. Paul's Church. Several persons were more or less injured. The rink was crowded to suffocation at the evening meeting."

The press report is wrong in a few respects. Evidently the police had not warned the Salvationists not to march, although they were aware that trouble might be expected. Miss Falconbridge had been involved in marches which had become violent on at least one previous occassion, in Shrewsbury. Booth himself had recently visited Chester and presented the local Army with a new flag carried at the head of their procession. Fenwick did manage to clam things down.

Another version of the copy reads:


 * "ANTI-SALVATION RIOT AT CHESTER. AN IRISH MOB IN ARMS. CHESTER, Sunday Evening. — To-day a serious collision occurred between a body of the Chester Salvation Army and the Irish population of the district known as Boughton, into which the Salvation Army had not previously penetrated. The officers of the army gave intimation to the police before marching that they were going into Boughton, the Irish quarter, in order to beat up their converts, and several constables were instructed to preserve order. The members of the army left the Pavilion Rink, their head quarters, at ten o'clock in the morning. In the meantime, the Catholic population having heard of their coming, turned out en masse armed with cudgels stories, and carrying flags of various kinds. The police advised the Salvationists not to proceed; in view of the threatening aspect of affairs, but they did so nevertheless. The Irish received them with shouts and a volley of miscellaneous rubbish, threatening them with further violence if they proceeded. The army endeavoured to proceed, when a fierce fight ensued, and the Salvationists who were unarmed, were very roughly handled. Stones and brick ends were thrown, and sticks were freely used. The police did all that was possible to prevent the violence of the mob. Miss "Captain" Falconbridge, in command of the Salvation Army at Chester, was struok by a stone on the temple, and had to be carried into a neighbouring house, where she was attended by Dr. Roberts. Sergeant Price, of the Chester police, received a heavy blow on the mouth with a stone. Several other persons received severe injuries before the riot terminated. In the afternoon the Irish again congregated, and were marching about a thousand strong, to storm the rink, when Mr Fenwick, chief constable of Chester, stopped the ringleaders, and after a brief parley, happily succeeded in inducing them to return. The excitement is now quiet."

This version places much more emphasis on the "mob" being Irish and Catholic, and differs in the details as to where the Salvationists were marching: to rather than from Boughton. The second version also has a much larger mob making an assault on the Pavilion in the afternoon.

Aftermath
The Chester Chronicle, a local newspaper, reported:


 * “The majority were unmistakably roughs of decidedly criminal appearance; some of the women were sallow-faced and of a low type of physique, but most of the men were big, hulking, powerful fellows and included some of the most troublesome characters in the town”.

Sources and Links

 * CW&C History and Heritage;
 * Salvation Army: at Victorian Web;
 * The Salvation Army in Exeter;