Spirit

Origins and Early Performances

Serving as a sequel to their earlier work 'Jesus Folk', 'Spirit!' picks up the narrative at the Ascension of Jesus. Conceived and initially produced by Salvation Army house parties, the musical received its first, albeit reduced, presentation at Regent Hall, London, in July 1973.

Full Staging in Glasgow

A full staging followed on 2 September 1974, at Kelvin Hall in Glasgow, Scotland. This performance was a significant event, incorporated into the Scottish Territory's annual congress. The choice of location and timing accommodated co-writer John Larsson, who was serving as the Territorial Youth Secretary for Scotland at the time. The entire house party involved in the initial production travelled to Scotland for this event, showcasing the work with a large cast of one hundred performers.

Memorable Congress Presentation

The Glasgow congress presentation proved highly successful and memorable. A notable moment occurred when the then Chief of the Staff, Commissioner Arthur Carr, along with Mrs. Commissioner Carr, attended the performance. Deeply moved, Commissioner Carr reportedly joined enthusiastically in the singing of the old doxology 'Praise God, I'm saved!' multiple times, complete with actions.

Commissioning of 'Glory!'

This positive reception, particularly from leadership, had significant consequences. Impressed by 'Spirit!', Commissioner Carr approached John Gowans during the Glasgow event and commissioned the duo to write another musical. This new work was requested for the upcoming 1978 International Congress at Wembley, with the specific instruction that it should be 'a very Army one.' This commission led directly to the creation of their next major musical, 'Glory!'.