Faversham Salvation Army focussed on future

The leaders of The Salvation Army in Faversham say they are excited for the future after plans to open a new home for the church and charity in the town took a step forward recently.

Pioneer leaders Jonathan and Bethany Munn spoke after district planners gave their approval for The Salvation Army to move into the former Barclays Bank in Court Street later this year.

Jonathan and Bethany arrived in Faversham in 2019 and, to date, have been operating out of Faversham Gospel Mission Hall. The previous Salvation Army church in the town closed in 1991.

Bethany said: “Our new home will give us the opportunity to look at what community services are available in Faversham so we can fit holistically with what’s on offer to people in the town. We already run a digital bible study course and have formed great relationships with people from it so it will be invaluable to have somewhere they can come and meet face to face during the week. We are also looking at starting a prayer event and a Christian induction course.”

The new building will also offer The Salvation Army a place to build on its relationship with the local food bank and an opportunity for Employment Plus, a service to help people get job-ready, to operate on a more regular basis. There will also be room for a small recording studio so Jonathan and Bethany can record their ‘At The Table’ podcast and build on The Salvation Army’s existing digital fingerprint in the town.

As pioneer leaders of The Salvation Army, Jonathan and Bethany are bringing what is called a Fresh Expression of the church and charity to Faversham. A Fresh Expression is about a new form of church for people who are not members.

Jonathan explained: “People assumed we were just a charity, but we’re principally a church, and we want to do things differently, to build up a community of people and break down the normality of what a church is.

Until the new Salvation Army home is ready, Jonathan and Bethany will continue to lead initiatives in the town which have in the past included an appeal for Ukraine and a community wardrobe, providing pre-worn school uniform for local schools in the area and clothing for families in crisis.

For more information about the work of The Salvation Army in Faversham, call 07771 045382, email faversham@salvationarmy.org.uk or search Faversham Salvation Army on Facebook.