Govan Citadel Songsters History
Of the four Govan music sections, the Songster Brigade is the most recently formed. The Senior Band was formed soon after the Corps began in 1881. The Young Peoples Band is reported as playing in January 1912 and with what were called 'YP Demonstrations' featuring singing, a Singing Company no doubt existed then also. It was not until 1918 that a Songster Brigade emerged, formed by Major Charles Cox from members of the National Songsters (Scotland) who were soldiers at Govan Citadel.
More than a decade was to pass before there was any significant recognition of the Songster Brigade. In 1929 The Armys' Bandsman and Songster magazine reported that the Brigade was 'yet in its infancy'...but 'keeping up the pace over the border'. That year it started its own Sunday morning street meeting and the next year led its own Easter mission in Edinburgh while the Corps band was in Sunderland.
Today the Brigade contributes, as it has always done, to the spiritual life and worship of the Govan Citadel Corps. It also continues to carry the message of Christ to other places. Its 2005 'ALIVE" tour of Canada comes in a long list of such campaigns. While the Brigade may have taken time to establish itself, having done so, it has kept up the pace on both sides of the border - and beyond!
The people who comprise the current Govan Songster Brigade of The Salvation Army represent a variety of different skills and professions. Among the group there are trainers, child minders, policemen, secretaries, carers, students, salesmen, buyers, bankers, I.T. specialists, nursery nurses, joiners, surveyors and more. each has come to faith in Christ, the Light of the World.
Songster Leader Colonel Nunn Brigadier and Mrs Nellist 1952
Songster Leader John Baillie 1954
Songster Leader Wilf Marriott Major & Mrs Robert Menary 1960's
Songster Leader Lindsay McGregor Capt. Ray & Pat Brown 1990's
Songster Leader Graham Dow Capt. Chris & Lynda Connelly 1999
Songster Leader Chic Ramsay Majors David & Ann Radford October 2005
Govan Citadel Songsters
