William Booth College

This well-known London landmark was originally designed as the William Booth Memorial Training College. It was generally known as the International Training College until recent years when the current form of name was adopted, perhaps in recognition of the fact that these days most cadets are trained in their homeland and the days of British paternalism are long gone! It also reflects the fact that the college now comes under the jurisdiction of the UK Territory rather than IHQ as previously. The main building (teaching & administration block) was Grade 2 listed in 1972 as being of particular architectural merit, and as such any alteration has to be sanctioned by English Heritage. This explains the battle to place a modern Cross on the front of the tower, the initiative of a Canadian, the late General Arnold Brown.

The college must rank amongst the Army's 'crown jewels', and is probably the largest purpose-built Salvation Army building in the UK, and probably one of the largest in the world, set over eight acres of land.

The college was opened on 8 July 1929 by HRH Prince George, Duke of Kent, to replace the International Training Garrison at Clapton (home also of Clapton Congress Hall Corps). The architect was the renowned Giles Gilbert Scott (1880-1960) who also designed Bankside Power Station, on the South Bank of the Thames in London, later converted into Tate Modern (art gallery). The new college was designed to accommodate 450 cadets.

Other well-known designs from Scott include Battersea Power Station, Liverpool's Anglican Cathedral and the famous red telephone boxes that have become so symbolic of the UK. Scott also designed the Cambridge University Library, the tower of which resembles that of William Booth College.

William Booth College exists to provide training programmes and resources to enable The Salvation Army in the United Kingdom and elsewhere to fulfill its Christian Mission more effectively. It also offers courses open to all for development and understanding of Christian faith.