Brunswick Corps celebrates 140 years
BY LERISSE SMITH
A rich fusion of faith, fellowship and friendship added a lively spark to the 140-year celebration of Melbourne’s Brunswick Corps over the weekend of 24-25 August.
More than 200 people celebrated the special milestone across the two-day event to commemorate the corps’ service to God and the local community – from its humble beginnings to being a beacon of hope, love and acceptance.
“It was a joyful event to celebrate,” said Captain Steph Glover, Corps Officer Team Leader of Merri-bek City Salvos which includes the Brunswick Corps. “It was like a big family reunion with memories and much love and joy being shared.”
Situated just off Sydney Road in a densely populated area, passers-by stopped as the band played out the front of the old building, with some bringing their families from surrounding streets to see what was happening. Brunswick has been a significant corps in the history of Victoria and in The Salvation Army.
Located in the inner suburbs of Melbourne, the corps is one of the oldest buildings in Victoria and was established when the colony was still in its early days, less than 20 years after William and Catherine Booth founded The Salvation Army in the slums of London's East End in 1865.
The weekend celebrations brought together past and present serving officers and members of the Brunswick Salvation Army community to reflect on its rich history.
The festivities included an open day on the Saturday centred around the corps’ history and music. A comprehensive photo montage display was on show, collated by Lindsay Cox from The Salvation Army Museum. The music featured a tribute to Bandmaster Arthur Gullidge. Special guest and long-time Salvationist, historian John Cleary, also delivered an historical overview of the church.
A celebration and thanksgiving service was held on Sunday, with the theme focusing on God's faithfulness over the past 140 years. It featured the Melbourne Staff Songsters and combined band, along with special guest speaker Commissioner Miriam Gluyas, former corps officers, staff, and volunteers of the Brunswick Corps.
A special testimony time also formed part of the event where people were invited to share how God had touched their life through the corps. A colourful celebration cake cut by the commissioner, followed by a shared lunch for all, topped off the special occasion.
“We want to give God the glory for everything he’s done over the past 140 years in and through the Brunswick Corps,” Steph said.
“Psalm 115 verse 1 says ‘Not to us, O Lord, not to us, but to your name be the glory, because of your steadfast love and faithfulness!' Every year a church lives is another expression of the goodness, the power and the faithfulness of God, and we are believing he will do even greater things in the years to come.”
The Brunswick Corps building opened in 1884 in Albert Street, with a re-build on the site years later. The current stone building was opened in 1928 after a fire destroyed the original timber citadel. It was extensively renovated in 2010.
While Brunswick was a new suburb in the early days, it was already one where local residents experienced significant poverty and hardship, making it a focal point for The Salvation Army's mission of helping the poor, destitute and hungry when the corps opened its doors.
Steph reflected on the uniqueness of the Brunswick Corps, highlighting its long-standing focus on the social needs within the community.
“Brunswick Salvos is a place that anyone can call home,” she said.
“No matter who you are, what your background is, whether you are lonely, experiencing homelessness, struggling with addiction or mental health issues, whether you are gender or sexuality diverse, neuro-diverse, retired, or a young person looking for connection - everyone can find a real community of belonging here.”
Looking to the future, there’s great anticipation about what is to come.
“There’s excitement about the new thing God is going to do at Brunswick Salvos,” she remarked. “It will look different, due to the ever-changing needs and strengths of the surrounding community but it will still hold its core values and be a vibrant and diverse place of belonging for the Brunswick community.”
댓글