Church Army Re-Envisioned by Founder Carlile

On 12th December, the Captain of the Church Army, Philip Johanson OBE, reminded the Church Army and the UK churches of the fundamental vision that has been inherited from its founder, Wilson Carlile in his sermon during a service held at St. Paul's Cathedral. The service was held to mark the centenary of Wilson Carlile’s appointment as Preberdary at St Paul's Cathedral.

Johanson first told the congregation the story of the Church Army founder, who has induced a breakthrough in the evangelistic method in the history of British Anglicans over the past century.

Wilson Carlile was once a staff member of St. Mary Abbots Church in Kensington, London. With the heart of passion to preach the Gospel to a wider reach, he became a street preacher and held open-air religious meetings in Kensington High Street and Notting Hill. His actions more than likely outraged some fellow Anglicans as this was not the way that missions were carried out during that period.

Carlile never gave up on his dream despite criticism from the Church of England. He founded the Church Army in 1882 and today the ministry lives out the legacy of Wilson Carlile's vision as part of the Anglican Communion through 350 evangelists based across the UK and Ireland and in 15 countries around the globe.

Johanson quoted the comment of the Archbishop of Canterbury, William Temple on hearing of Carlile's death in 1942, "He has done more than anyone else in the last two generations to bring the Gospel of Christ in living force to bear upon the people of this land."

Captain Johanson compared the role of Carlile to John the Baptist. Taking the Scripture Reading from Matthew 11: 2-11, he explained John the Baptist and Carlile were both signposts pointing people to the Saviour of the world.

"We all need signposts in our journey through life none more so than young people growing up into today's world," Johanson added.

Johanson outlined "the good news is not just being proclaimed, it is being lived out in the lives of people. That is the challenge facing the church today - living out the Gospel in our communities."

Therefore, he then referred to the outstanding mission projects that have been carrying out by the Church Army practically within the community, particularly in Liverpool - one of highest areas of unemployment in England, with poverty and crime and drug-related offences a common theme.

The Kidz Klub project in Liverpool provides 70% of children with free school meals. Each week around 250 children and young people come together in various age groups to learn life skills through exploring the challenge and implications of the Christian faith in an exciting and dynamic way.

One of the major ministers, Phil shared, "Through working out the practical implications of the Christian message, we want to see more sixteen year olds in the area entering further education or finding employment; more young people having ambitions and goals in life; a lower school truancy rate, and a lower rate of teenage pregnancy; and more people growing up in the area with a different set of values in life."

Another example he cited is the Marylebone project in London that serves 5,000 women each year with accommodation or a safe place to meet and help transform their lives.

In addition, Captain Johanson challenges all the UK churches and evangelists of the Church Army to become both a "signpost and servant" for the Saviour of the world just as the undesirable religious street preachers John the Baptist and Wilson Carlile were in their day.

He quoted from Matthew 11: 7 that Jesus said, "What did you go out into the desert to see? A man dressed in fine clothes? No, those who wear fine clothes are in King's palaces."

"John the Baptist was not a king; rather he was a servant of the King of Kings. A servant does not receive the glory and often does not even receive the praise - that goes to another," he explained.

Finally, he concluded his speech by encouraging all evangelists of the Church Army, "Today Church Army Evangelists through your prayers and with your gifts are both a signpost to and a servant of the Saviour of the world. The challenge to all of us is to become both a signpost to the Saviour of the world and a servant of the Saviour of the world as we prepare to celebrate His birth at this coming Christmas time."