 Much of the work in the district was supported by the East London Church Fund , established in 1880 to fund additional clergy and lay workers in the poorest districts . Lang preached in wealthier parishes throughout Southern England , and urged his listeners to contribute to the Fund . He extended his ministry to the army when , in 1907 , was appointed Honorary Chaplain to the City of London Imperial Yeomanry ( Rough Riders ) . He became chairman of the Church of England Men 's Society ( <unk> ) , which had been founded in 1899 by the merger of numerous organisations doing the same work . Initially he found it " a very sickly infant " , but under his leadership it expanded rapidly , and soon had over 20 @,@ 000 members in 600 branches . Later he became critical of the Church 's failure to use this movement effectively , calling it one of the Church 's lost opportunities . 
