Stepping out in faith – social work pioneers Alice and James Barker
- deansimpson7
- Sep 19
- 2 min read
BY BARRY GITTINS
A young couple from the United Kingdom stepped foot on Australian soil on 21 September 1882, 143 years ago this weekend, disembarking from the SS Cotopax.
The Salvation Army’s newly appointed leaders for the Antipodes, Major James Barker and Mrs Alice Barker, had only gotten hitched the day before they went sailing to the other side of the world.
James, a printer by trade, was appointed by General William Booth to mix things up Down Under, with the grand title of ‘Australasia Provincial Commander’. And mixing things up is a fair description of the Barkers’ energetic and far-reaching leadership.
The Barkers originally planned to arrive in Adelaide, where the Army’s work had officially commenced the previous year under the direction of Thomas and Adelaide Sutherland, but due to labour problems on the Adelaide wharf, the ship was forwarded to Melbourne, where the Barkers disembarked, not knowing a single soul.
However, they were met by one person, 74-year-old Dr John Singleton, the founder of several Christian-oriented welfare agencies, who had heard of the Barkers’ impending arrival.
James’ friendship and mentoring relationship with the doctor – a philanthropist and leading citizen – led to the Army engaging with prisoners both inside and outside the walls of gaols.
Alice and James Barker went on to establish Prison-Gate Homes in Melbourne, Sydney, Ballarat, Auckland and Castlemaine, and also Rescue Homes (for women) in Melbourne, Geelong, Ballarat, Sydney, Brisbane, Christchurch, Wellington and Dunedin.
It was the beginning of the Army’s formal, institutional social work throughout the world.
James was also empowered by the colonial authorities to act as a special constable, taking children out of opium dens and brothels in Melbourne’s CBD and relocating them to safer locations.
Dr Singleton had famously met and prayed with the bushranger, Ned Kelly, before he was hanged in 1880. And in 1884, it was his ‘mentee’, James Barker, who enabled Kelly’s executioner, Elijah Upjohn, to join The Salvation Army.
A contemporary newspaper later reported: “Upjohn, the ex-public executioner, caused a great sensation at The Salvation Army service last night. He presented himself among the penitents. A number of officers raised an objection and refused to associate with the discarded hangman. Major Barker, however, was firm and received Upjohn as a recruit.”
Upjohn was reportedly promoted to glory in 1885. The principle of including people – not judging them – has been an issue the Army has wrestled with ever since.
After his Australasian adventures, James Barker’s role back in the UK in implementing the General’s ‘In Darkest England’ scheme, and revolutionising the matchstick industry into the bargain, is another stirring chapter in a well-storied life.
It is also recorded that he was instrumental in producing the first War Cry publication in England in December 1879.
James Barker was promoted to glory in May 1901, aged 49, succumbing to a diabetes-related illness. Alice Barker was promoted to glory in 1918 at the height of the influenza epidemic.
