救世军是基督教的一个支派，以街头布道、慈善活动和社会服务而著称。救世军创办于1865年，1916年传入中国。北京是其最早的传入地，也是向外省市传播的大本营。救世军在北京开展露天布道活动，发展信徒，并建设教堂。从20世纪二三十年代开始，救世军向东北、华南地区传教。与此同时，救世军进行了大量慈善活动和社会服务工作，如开办粥厂、暖厂、医院、学校、平民住宅等，并取得了一定成效。对旧社会穷苦民众的困难，起到了一定的缓解作用，这是它的积极方面。因此，在北京活动的众多教派中救世军能后来居上，赢得更多的信徒。同时也应该看到，救世军作为西方传教士在华的一个分支机构，也有其消极之处。救世军的慈善活动是以传教为前提，且只能满足少量极贫困户的基本生存条件，救济效果有限。救世军同封建官僚、新旧军阀也有千丝万缕的联系，在某种程度上也成为他们维护旧秩序的工具。新中国成立以后，救世军在北京的活动逐渐式微。1951年外国救世军势力退出中国大陆。1956年，中国救世军加入基督教三自爱国运动委员会。救世军的历史就此终结，然而它的部分建筑遗迹至今尚存，并已列为文物建筑得以保护，成为那段历史的见证。

The Salvation Army is a Christian tribes, which was famous of street evangelism, charity events and social services. The Salvation Army was founded in 1865, came to China in 1915. Beijing was the Salvation Army's first base and also its headquarters. Here, the Salvation Army to carry out open-air preaching, develop believers, building churches. From the beginning the 1920s and 1930s, The Salvation Army continued to Northeast China and Southern China spreading Christianity. Meanwhile, the Salvation Army had conducted a number of charitable activities, such as organizing soup kitchens, warm houses, hospitals, schools, civilian housing and other social services. Their work achieved certain results. The hardships of the people of the old social life, played a role in mitigation. This is its positive aspects. Therefore, the Salvation Army can come from behind and win more followers. At the same time we should also see, The Salvation Army as a branch of the Anglo-American powers in China, but also has its negative place. The Salvation Army was spread doctrines as the premise, to carry out charitable activities. The charity effect was very limited. The Salvation Army with the feudal bureaucracy, the old warlords had contact. To some extent, the Salvation Army had also become a tool for them to maintain the old order. This is the negative aspects of the Salvation Army. After the founding of New China, the Salvation Army gradually declined. In 1951, foreign Salvation Army forces withdraw from the Chinese mainland. In 1956, Chinese Salvation Army officer joined the Christian Three-Self Patriotic Movement Committee. The Salvation Army of Beijing finally ended. However, the Salvation Army has been surviving architectural monuments and has been listed as heritage buildings have been protected.