It was the Reverend 'Pa' Salmon who begun the work among young people on this site in 1906. A hundred years later and Salmon has what must be one of the best purpose-built youth facilities in the country (right).
Founder members of the club would be astonished to see today's high tech facilities - the dance studio, the high tech gym, the music studio, sports hall, art room, computers everywhere - but they would be reassured to see the foundation stone in the entrance lobby proclaiming that Christ is the cornerstone of everything Salmon does as it seeks to reach out with the love of Christ.
It was good to meet Salmon's director, Sam (right), other staff menbers, and some of the residential community (or 'ressies' - a new uniquely Bermondsey word I have recently learned, although I'm not absolutely certain of the spelling) - but, like schools during the holidays, youth centres are strangely quiet and tranquil during the day, so my next visit must be to see Salmon in action - in the evening, when the members are there.
Some years ago when the Bermondsey Group Ministry was set up, consisting of the parishes of St James, St Anne's, & St Mary's, the Salmon Youth Centre was included as part of the Group. That gives us a definite link with each other and recognises that in different ways we are all engaged in God's mission in the same place.
I'm the new boy round here but it seems to me that Salmon, the local churches, and the local church schools all working together, offers a potent combination for the advancement of of God's kingdom here in Bermondsey.
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