Blood and Water Salvation Navy

On 5 May 1882 the Manchester Evening News carried a notice: 'Wanted, Persons able to conduct Salvation Meetings, with the view of becoming Captains and Lieutenants in the Salvation Navy' (Wanted 1). This was the 'Blood and Water' Salvation Navy under the command of 'Admiral' John C Blore. This new mission was in direct imitation of the Salvation Army which had been founded 4 years earlier under General William Booth. This new Navy had no connection with the Salvation Army (which would go on to found its own Salvation Navy in 1885). 

 

 

This Salvation Navy, which adapted its 'Blood and Water' motto from the Salvation Army's 'Blood and Fire' motto, was evidently active in the area around Greater Manchester. A small collection of documents relating to this Salvation Navy is held in the Salvation Army International Heritage Centre, which reveal Admiral Blore to have been operating from Newton Heath, Manchester.  

The Song Book and Regulations of the 'Blood and Water' Salvation Navy were printed by the National Printing Co. in Manchester and indicate the non-sectarian nature of the Navy with a message that they 'can be used by any registered Religious Sect'. A poster indicates that meetings were held in Pendlebury in June 1882 and in July a Salvation Navy Lighthouse was established in an old mill at Dukinfield, Cheshire (Sometime 5). Here, as elsewhere, there are reports of local violence against Salvation Navy 'Captains' and 'Lieutenants', some as far afield (and resolutely in-land) as Staffordshire and Lincolnshire, although these may be unrelated to Admiral Blore's Navy. (Annoying 7 & A Salvation Navy Captain 3 & Salvation Mariners in a Storm 5). 

 

 

The 'Blood and Water' Salvation Navy can probably stand for any number of small, evangelical missions to seamen that appeared briefly in the 19th century which leave frustratingly elusive traces in the historical records. We know nothing of the activities of this mission, nor anything of the motivations of its founder. It was probably only active for a few months and the last known reference is to a service of the Salvation Navy being disrupted in January 1883. (Salvation Navy Disturbances 3)