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Denominational Profile
The Salvation Army was founded in 1868 (as the Christian Mission) in England by William Booth. Though best known for its social work and its military organization, it is also a Holiness denomination.
Membership Data
| Year | Clergy | Churches | Members |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1925 | 4,465 | 1,519 | 74,416 |
| 1929 | 5,432 | 1,769 | 87,992 |
| 1933 | - | 1,706 | 104,336 |
| 1935 | 4,267 | 1,633 | 259,101 |
| 1937 | - | 1,646 | 240,258 |
| 1940 | - | 1,647 | 238,357 |
| 1942 | - | 1,515 | 220,367 |
| 1944 | - | 1,474 | 208,329 |
| 1946 | - | - | 205,881 |
| 1947 | - | 1,380 | 209,341 |
| 1951 | 5,041 | 1,382 | 227,821 |
| 1952 | 5,056 | 1,350 | 232,631 |
| 1953 | 5,108 | 1,342 | 235,559 |
| 1954 | 5,111 | 1,327 | 240,130 |
| 1955 | 5,159 | 1,323 | 249,641 |
| 1956 | 3,862 | 1,282 | 247,964 |
| 1957 | 3,851 | 1,279 | 250,156 |
| 1958 | 3,777 | 1,273 | 250,583 |
| 1959 | 3,784 | 1,259 | 253,061 |
| 1960 | 3,854 | 1,255 | 254,141 |
| 1961 | 3,702 | 1,243 | 257,832 |
| 1962 | 3,727 | 1,241 | 259,955 |
| 1963 | 4,523 | 1,234 | 261,014 |
| 1964 | 5,161 | 1,234 | 264,910 |
| 1965 | 5,133 | 1,219 | 287,991 |
| 1966 | 3,889 | 1,219 | 294,201 |
| 1967 | 5,207 | 1,121 | 324,911 |
| 1968 | 5,249 | 1,230 | 329,515 |
| 1969 | 5,443 | 1,116 | 331,711 |
| 1970 | 5,190 | 1,105 | 326,934 |
| 1971 | 5,180 | 1,104 | 335,684 |
| 1972 | 5,181 | 1,101 | 358,626 |
| 1973 | 5,191 | 1,104 | 361,571 |
| 1974 | 5,178 | 1,184 | 366,471 |
| 1975 | 5,180 | 1,169 | 384,817 |
| 1976 | 5,095 | 1,178 | 380,618 |
| 1977 | 5,025 | 1,126 | 396,238 |
| 1978 | 5,104 | 1,117 | 414,035 |
| 1979 | 5,165 | 1,067 | 414,659 |
| 1980 | 5,167 | 1,056 | 417,359 |
| 1981 | 5,153 | 1,062 | 414,999 |
| 1982 | 5,119 | 1,060 | 419,475 |
| 1983 | 5,159 | 1,061 | 428,046 |
| 1984 | 5,194 | 1,073 | 420,971 |
| 1985 | 5,161 | 1,088 | 427,825 |
| 1986 | 5,195 | 1,092 | 432,893 |
| 1987 | 5,174 | 1,097 | 434,002 |
| 1988 | 5,198 | 1,097 | 433,448 |
| 1989 | 5,184 | 1,122 | 445,566 |
| 1990 | 5,120 | 1,133 | 445,991 |
| 1991 | 5,241 | 1,151 | 446,403 |
| 1994 | 5,238 | 1,222 | 443,246 |
| 1995 | 5,242 | 1,264 | 453,150 |
| 1998 | 5,248 | 1,388 | 471,416 |
| 1999 | 5,415 | 1,410 | 472,871 |
| 2001 | 5,481 | 1,369 | 454,982 |
| 2003 | 5,443 | 1,329 | 564,885 |
| 2004 | 5,526 | 1,316 | 427,027 |
Source
Data were taken from the National Council of Churches' Historic Archive CD and recent editions of the Yearbook of American and Canadian Churches. Denomination descriptions provided by Dr. J. Gordon Melton, Director, Institute for the Study of American Religion (ISAR). [More information on data sources]
