West Midlands

Please click on any of these churches below to find out more:

• Bedworth  - closed corps
• Birmingham Airport Chaplaincy
• Birmingham Aston
• Birmingham Citadel
• Birmingham Erdington - programme paused
• Bromsgrove
• Burton-on-Trent
• Cannock
• Chesterton
• Coventry
• Cradley Heath
• Darlaston
• Droitwich
• Dudley
• Evesham
• Hednesford
• Hereford
• Kidderminster - closed corps
• Kidsgrove
• Leek
• Leamington Spa
• Longton
• Malvern
• Newcastle-under-Lyme
• Nuneaton
• Oakengates
• Oldbury
• Redditch
• Rugby
• Sedgley  - Now part of Dudley corps
• Shrewsbury
• Stafford
• Stoke-on-Trent
• Tunstall
• Willenhall
• Worcester

Our Divisional Fellowship Band is made up of musicians from The Salvation Army, and is open to other Christian musicians who share a faith in Jesus Christ, His life and His teachings. 

To find out more about the band and upcoming engagements, please contact the band secretary Trevor Pocock (trevor.pocock@salvationarmy.org.uk).

The Fellowship Band was formed in 2000, initially to supply music for the West Midlands Divisional Home League Rally. From this grew other invitations, so regular rehearsals began in 2002. The band was officially inaugurated by the Divisional Commander on 27th March 2004. In May 2004, the band made a very successful tour of Norway. And In October 2015, the band visited Guernsey performing concerts and leading church services.

Since its inception, the band has been led by Bandmaster Charles King. Charles was previously Divisional Bandmaster but, as a lifelong Salvationist, has held many Local Officer appointments. He is well known nationally and internationally for his teaching, conducting and performing skills. Above all though, he has a passion for reaching out to those who do not know Christ, seeing music as a way to touch their souls.

The band is unique, in that although part of The Salvation Army, it is open to other Christian musicians who share a faith in Jesus Christ, His life and His teachings. The dedication, enthusiasm, energy, time and miles travelled by those who serve in the band is impressive. The reward is the joy and fellowship shared as we develop musically and spiritually. Whilst many players are retired, we do have a diverse group of members, young and old, Salvationists and non-Salvationists, men and women. The band rehearses most Tuesdays at 11:15 am in The Cradley Heath Salvation Army hall:

Cradley Heath | The Salvation Army

Each year, we carry out engagements at various Corps, Church and Divisional events often sharing the programme with other musical groups. In 2023, the band led the Burton-on-Trent Corps Harvest Sunday, also a Sunday afternoon meeting at Cradley Heath. We also supported the Divisional Celebration (formerly the Adult Family Ministries Rally) in Lichfield. During December, the band played Christmas music in Solihull, Lichfield, Stratford-upon-Avon, Streetly and Coventry.

In June this year, the band is planning a 3 day trip to Norfolk giving concerts and leading meetings at Sheringham, Great Yarmouth and Lowestoft. 

The West Midlands Divisional Fellowship Band (Bandmaster Charles King) recently undertook a very successful tour of Norfolk supporting three Corps – Sheringham, Great Yarmouth and Lowestoft. The Friday evening festival at Sheringham was shared with the local Corps’ Songster Brigade as part of their Corps Anniversary. On Saturday evening, the band played in Great Yarmouth Minster together with Great Yarmouth Brass. Over £1,000 was raised, shared between the Corps and RNLI. The Band led the Sunday morning meeting at Lowestoft followed by an open air at a nearby shopping centre. All events were well attended and much appreciated. It was a tiring but very rewarding weekend for the 28 members of the band.

 If you are interested in attending any events in the future, joining the band, booking us for a concert or supporting in any way, please contact the secretary,

Trevor Pocock (trevor.pocock@salvationarmy.org.uk).

JANUARY

8th                   Youth Band Rehearsals                          Birmingham Citadel

20th                 Design for Life                                         Oldbury 

29th                 Nexus Rehearsals                                    Oldbury

FEBRUARY

2nd                   CBDO                                                        Oldbury Corps

5th                    Youth Band Rehearsals                         Birmingham Citadel

24th - 25th     Youth Band Specialling Weekend       Droitwich

29th                  Nexus Rehearsals                                   Oldbury

MARCH

6th                    Mission Matters Day                            Oldbury 

11th                   Nexus Rehearsals                                   Birmingham Citadel

18th                  Youth Band Rehearsals                        Oldbury 

24th                  Palm Sunday

29th                  Good Friday

31st                   Easter Sunday

APRIL

8th                     Nexus Rehearsals                                  Birmingham Citadel

12th - 14th       Growing Leaders & Youth Leaders     Warwick University

29th                   Nexus Rehearsals                                  Oldbury

MAY

13th                   Youth Band Rehearsals                         Birmingham Citadel

13th - 15th        Officers Retreat                                      Chesford Grange                                                                        

18th                   Nexus & Youth Band Concert              Oakengates

20th                  Nexus Rehearsals                                   Oldbury

22nd                  Divisional Celebration                           Venue TBC

27th - 30th       Junior Camp                                           Pioneer Centre

JUNE

10th                   Youth Band Rehearsals                        Birmingham Citadel

24th                   Nexus Rehearsals                                  Oldbury Corps

29th - 30th      Nexus Specialling Weekend               Stockton on Tees Corps  

JULY

1st                        Youth Band Rehearsals                         Birmingham Citadel

6th                        Youth Band Specialling                      Pershore Brass Festival

22nd                    Nexus Rehearsals                                  Oldbury

25th                     Divisional Officers Welcome              Oldbury

27th - 2nd Aug  Divisional Summer School                Denstone College, Staffs

AUGUST              SUMMER HOLIDAYS

SEPTEMBER

7th                      Children's Big Day Out                          Oldbury Corps

9th                      Youth Band Rehearsals                         Birmingham Citadel

23rd                   Nexus Rehearsals                                    Oldbury

28th - 29th       Nexus Specialling Weekend                 Silverdale Methodist Church 

OCTOBER

6th                    Divisional Youth Councils                      Venue TBC

14th                  Youth Band Rehearsals                           Birmingham Citadel

17th                   Mission Matters Day                              Venue TBC

21st                   Nexus Rehearsals                                    Oldbury

NOVEMBER

11th                    Youth Band Rehearsals                        Birmingham Citadel

25th                   Nexus Rehearsals                                 Oldbury Corps

26th                   Safeguarding Training                         Coventry City

28th                   Officers Christmas Gathering            Fairlawns

December

1st                     First Sunday in Advent

25th                  Christmas Day

26th                  Boxing Day