Wilfred Kitching

Wilfred Kitching CBE (22 August 1893 15 December 1977) was a British Salvation Army officer who was their 7th General between 1954 and 1963.

General
Wilfred Kitching
7th General of The Salvation Army
In office
1 July 1954  23 November 1963
Preceded byAlbert Orsborn
Succeeded byFrederick Coutts
Personal details
Born(1893-08-22)22 August 1893
London
Died15 December 1977(1977-12-15) (aged 84)
Resting placeNew Camberwell Cemetery

Biography

Born in Wood Green, London, to Theodore and Jane Kitching (née Cranshaw); his father was also a Salvation Army officer. Wilfred attended Friern Barnet Grammar School.[1] He became a Salvation Army Officer at age 20 in 1914. He would serve over 30 years in corps, divisional and National Headquarters appointments, and the British Territory.

He and Adjutant Kathleen Bristow were married in 1929. In 1946, he was sent to serve in Australia South as Chief Secretary. He was sent to Sweden to serve as Territorial Commander in 1948. In 1951, he became British Commissioner.

The Commissioner was elected General of The Salvation Army by the High Council in 1954. During his years as an officer, he wrote many songs in The Salvation Army song book. In 1961, he was awarded a Hon. LLD in Yonsei, Korea, and CBE in 1964. He also wrote two books, Soldier of Salvation (1963), and his autobiography, A Goodly Heritage (1967). General Kitching retired on 22 November 1963.

General Wilfred Kitching died at the age of 84. He is buried in New Camberwell Cemetery.[2]

References

  1. Who's Who
  2. London Cemeteries: An Illustrated Guide and Gazetteer, by Hugh Meller & Brian Parsons
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