Bradford Idle Salvation Army Officer honoured by King

A Salvation Army officer was honoured by the King for his Christian service and contribution to the community. 

Divisional Envoy Billy Cowgill, who leads Bradford Idle Salvation Army, was chosen to receive Maundy Money, which is part of a tradition dating back to the 13th century, where the monarch honours people who have given their life to the church and community. 

This year, reflecting the King’s 76 years of age, 76 men and 76 women received two small leather purses, one with a special £5 coin and 50 pence piece to commemorate the Queen Mother and those who fought in the Second World War, and the other filled with 76 pence in silver Maundy coins. 

Billy was invited to Durham Cathedral to receive the money on Maundy Thursday – the Christian holy day falling on the Thursday before Easter. 

Billy, who has led Idle Salvation Army for 30 years, said: “When I got the letter through inviting me, I thought what on earth is this? Buckingham Palace! 

“It was quite an experience to go there and meet the King and Queen. I spoke to the King and told him I’d been in The Salvation Army since I was a young lad. 

“What was funny was King Charles also visited Bradford a couple of weeks after and I shook his hand again so that’s twice this year. It was amazing. 

“It felt it a real privilege and honour to receive thanks from our King, but all I do is in service of the King of Kings, the Lord Jesus Christ. He gives me the strength and the help to do what I do.” 

Billy, now age 84, has been involved with Bradford Idle Salvation Army since he was seven years old, joining the junior band and singing company, later becoming Songster leader and Bandmaster in his thirties.

He left the Army for a while and started his own worship group, but he returned to Bradford Idle, bringing a congregation of 15 with him. In May 1995, he and his late wife Beryl became officers of Idle Salvation Army. 

Over the years Billy has coped with much personal hardship including a diagnosis of cancer where he was told it was unlikely he would survive, and an operation on his kidneys that was deemed at first to be unsuccessful, however Billy’s belief in the healing power of prayer pulled him through this and he survived both ordeals. 

He said: “The presence of the Almighty God has been awesome to me ever since. The answers to prayers we have made as a fellowship here in our Corps have been nothing short of miraculous.” 

Billy also endured losses when his granddaughter Victoria died, followed by his son Kevin ten years later, then in 2014 he lost Beryl after 14 years of caring for her after she was diagnosed with Alzheimer’s. 

He has seen the Idle building in Walter Street through a new roof and a new community hall, again crediting the power of prayer in helping these projects come together. 

“Life hasn’t been easy but thankfully the Lord is with me all the time and has been my strength and help during the 30 years I have been officer of the Idle Church. He has supported me to visit the people who need comfort, help and support – which is the reason why I became a recipient on Maundy Thursday,” he said. 

Now a lot of the work Idle church does is out in the community visiting people in care homes. 

He added: “We have got a really good fellowship, and we go visiting every Wednesday and Thursday at the local care homes. We meet loads of people and they love seeing us, when we walk in their faces light up. 

“We recently hosted an open day for the local community to come and learn more about the church. We held an exhibition with photographs, newspaper clippings and videos. Lots of families come in and recognise their family members in the photos, and can see that we are still here serving the community as we have been since the Corps opened in 1884.”