William Booth College on Champion Park,

Denmark Hill Denmark Hill is an area and road in Camberwell, in the London Borough of Southwark. It is a sub-section of the western flank of the Norwood Ridge, centred on the long, curved Ruskin Park slope of the ridge. The road is part of the A215 road, A21 ...

in the

London London is the capital and largest city of England and the United Kingdom, with a population of just under 9 million. It stands on the River Thames in south-east England at the head of a estuary down to the North Sea, and has been a majo ...

Borough of

Southwark Southwark ( ) is a district of Central London situated on the south bank of the River Thames, forming the north-western part of the wider modern London Borough of Southwark. The district, which is the oldest part of South London, developed ...

, is the headquarters of

The Salvation Army The Salvation Army (TSA) is a Protestant church and an international charitable organisation headquartered in London, England. The organisation reports a worldwide membership of over 1.7million, comprising soldiers, officers and adherents col ...

leadership and officer training which delivers education and training programmes for the

United Kingdom The United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland, commonly known as the United Kingdom (UK) or Britain, is a country in Europe, off the north-western coast of the continental mainland. It comprises England, Scotland, Wales and North ...

. Designed by Sir

Giles Gilbert Scott Sir Giles Gilbert Scott (9 November 1880 – 8 February 1960) was a British architect known for his work on the New Bodleian Library, Cambridge University Library, Lady Margaret Hall, Oxford, Battersea Power Station, Liverpool Cathedral, and d ...

, the college is a memorial to

William Booth William Booth (10 April 182920 August 1912) was an English Methodist preacher who, along with his wife, Catherine, founded the Salvation Army and became its first "General" (1878–1912). His 1890 book In Darkest England and The Way Out outli ...

. The college has been listed Grade II on the

National Heritage List for England The National Heritage List for England (NHLE) is England's official database of protected heritage assets. It includes details of all English listed buildings, scheduled monuments, register of historic parks and gardens, protected shipwrecks, an ...

since September 1972.

History and opening

The college was proposed by William Booth's son Bramwell just after his father William's death, as a tribute to him. On 8 July 1929, the college was officially opened by HRH Prince George. The foundation stone was laid in 1928 and the college was completed in 1932.

Renovation

In 2010, the college went under repair in many areas due to subsidence and the interior was in need of updating. By 2012, the renovation was completed and most of the interior was brought up to date.

The building

The main building consists of an Assembly hall which is used on Sundays for the main services as well as other events. There is a library and a museum which visitors can access. The lounge area, known to the residents as ''The Hub'' is a single-storey development which links the Assembly hall to the main entrance. This provides cadets with a "friendly" free-time space. The Canteen area situated in a separate block along with a function room. Adjacent to the canteen is a function room which is used to host social and fundraising events put on by the college.

Accommodation

The accommodation varies; while some flats may have up to three bedrooms, others may only have one. Most of the guest accommodation is in Blocks 3 and 4 at the college.

Training

The training Cadets will usually stay at William Booth College for two years while they complete their leadership or officer training. If they are newly appointed they might go back to the college before their second Salvation Army appointment with a new corps.

References

{{Authority control Buildings and structures in the London Borough of Southwark Buildings and structures completed in 1932 Camberwell Educational institutions established in 1929 Giles Gilbert Scott buildings Grade II listed buildings in the London Borough of Southwark Further education colleges in London Salvationism in England The Salvation Army Art Deco architecture in London 1929 establishments in England