Commissioner A commissioner (commonly abbreviated as Comm'r) is, in principle, a member of a commission or an individual who has been given a commission (official charge or authority to do something). In practice, the title of commissioner has evolved to incl ...

Theodore Hopkins Kitching

CBE The Most Excellent Order of the British Empire is a British order of chivalry, rewarding valuable service in a wide range of useful activities. It comprises five classes of awards across both civil and military divisions, the most senior two o ...

(29 December 1866 – 10 February 1930) was a prominent officer in

The Salvation Army The Salvation Army (TSA) is a Protestantism, Protestant Christian church and an international charitable organisation headquartered in London, England. It is aligned with the Wesleyan-Holiness movement. The organisation reports a worldwide m ...

, acting as Secretary and confidant to

Generals A general officer is an officer of high rank in the armies, and in some nations' air and space forces, marines or naval infantry. In some usages, the term "general officer" refers to a rank above colonel."general, adj. and n.". OED Online. Ma ...

William Booth William Booth (10 April 1829 – 20 August 1912) was an English Methodist preacher who, along with his wife, Catherine, founded the Salvation Army and became its first General (1878–1912). This Christian movement, founded in 1865, has a qu ...

and

Bramwell Booth William Bramwell Booth, Order of the Companions of Honour, CH (8 March 1856 – 16 June 1929) was a British church and charity leader who was the first Chief of the Staff of The Salvation Army, Chief of Staff (1881–1912) and the second Genera ...

, and was The Salvation Army's International Secretary for Europe from 1914 to 1916. Born in Ackworth in

Yorkshire Yorkshire ( ) is an area of Northern England which was History of Yorkshire, historically a county. Despite no longer being used for administration, Yorkshire retains a strong regional identity. The county was named after its county town, the ...

, the third of eleven children of school teachers William Kitching and his wife Louisa (

née The birth name is the name of the person given upon their birth. The term may be applied to the surname, the given name or to the entire name. Where births are required to be officially registered, the entire name entered onto a births registe ...

Wilmot),Wiggins, Arch. R, ''T. H. K. : Theodore Hopkins Kitching'' Published by Salvationist Publishing and Supplies Ltd, London (1956) Theodore Kitching was originally a school teacher and a

Quaker Quakers are people who belong to the Religious Society of Friends, a historically Protestant Christian set of denominations. Members refer to each other as Friends after in the Bible, and originally, others referred to them as Quakers ...

. He joined The Salvation Army in 1882 aged 16 at a meeting in

Bristol Bristol () is a City status in the United Kingdom, cathedral city, unitary authority area and ceremonial county in South West England, the most populous city in the region. Built around the River Avon, Bristol, River Avon, it is bordered by t ...

England England is a Countries of the United Kingdom, country that is part of the United Kingdom. It is located on the island of Great Britain, of which it covers about 62%, and List of islands of England, more than 100 smaller adjacent islands. It ...

, and became a Salvation Army officer in 1888, serving in Britain, France, Switzerland, and Belgium. He was Secretary to

, the Founder and first

General A general officer is an Officer (armed forces), officer of high rank in the army, armies, and in some nations' air force, air and space forces, marines or naval infantry. In some usages, the term "general officer" refers to a rank above colone ...

, from 1909 to 1912, Secretary to General

from 1912 to 1914, and was the Salvation Army's International Secretary for Europe from 1914 to 1916, Salvation Army Editor-in-Chief 1921 to 1929, and head of The Salvation Army Literary Department and Translations Bureau. In addition, Kitching was a close confidant of both William Booth and his son Bramwell. Kitching accompanied General William Booth on his last tour of the United States in 1907, when they were both filmed working in an "office" – actually a set in an open-air studio. He wrote numerous

hymn A hymn is a type of song, and partially synonymous with devotional song, specifically written for the purpose of adoration or prayer, and typically addressed to a deity or deities, or to a prominent figure or personification. The word ''hymn'' d ...

s including ''How Wonderful It Is to Walk with God''. Kitching was appointed a

Commander of the British Empire The Most Excellent Order of the British Empire is a British order of chivalry, rewarding valuable service in a wide range of useful activities. It comprises five classes of awards across both civil and military divisions, the most senior two o ...

(CBE) in 1920. Commissioner Theodore Kitching married Jane Cranshaw and with her had four children, the oldest of whom was

Wilfred Kitching Wilfred Kitching CBE (22 August 1893 – 15 December 1977) was a British Salvation Army officer who was their seventh General between 1954 and 1963. Biography Born in Wood Green, London, to Theodore and Jane Kitching (née Cranshaw); his f ...

, who became the 7th General of The Salvation Army.

Edward Higgins Edward John Higgins (26 November 1864 – 14 December 1947) was the third General of The Salvation Army (1929–1934). He was born in Highbridge, Somerset, England. His father became a much revered Commissioner in the Army's ranks, and ...

decided to send Kitching to Switzerland on a delicate mission which required a man with diplomatic skills. Therefore, early on 10 February 1930 Kitching left his

Ealing Ealing () is a district in west London (sub-region), west London, England, west of Charing Cross in the London Borough of Ealing. It is the administrative centre of the borough and is identified as a major metropolitan centre in the London Pl ...

home for

Paris Paris () is the Capital city, capital and List of communes in France with over 20,000 inhabitants, largest city of France. With an estimated population of 2,048,472 residents in January 2025 in an area of more than , Paris is the List of ci ...

en route for

Geneva Geneva ( , ; ) ; ; . is the List of cities in Switzerland, second-most populous city in Switzerland and the most populous in French-speaking Romandy. Situated in the southwest of the country, where the Rhône exits Lake Geneva, it is the ca ...

. In Paris he was met by an old Salvationist friend who took him to the restaurant at the

Gare du Nord The Gare du Nord (; ), officially Paris Nord, is one of the seven large mainline railway station termini in Paris, France. The station is served by trains that run between the capital and northern France via the Paris–Lille railway, as well ...

. Kitching suddenly slumped forward, as if overcome by fatigue, his head resting on his friend's shoulder. He had died of a heart attack.Wiggins, pp 97–8 Theodore Kitching died in Paris on 10 February 1930, and, like many prominent

Salvation Army officers An officer in The Salvation Army is a Salvationist who is an ordained minister of the Christian faith, but who fulfills many other roles not usually filled by clergy of other denominations. They do so having been trained, ordained and commissio ...

, was buried in

Abney Park Cemetery Abney Park cemetery is one of the "Magnificent Seven" cemeteries in London, England. Abney Park in Stoke Newington in the London Borough of Hackney is a historic parkland originally laid out in the early 18th century by Lady Mary Abney, D ...

Stoke Newington Stoke Newington is an area in the northwest part of the London Borough of Hackney, England. The area is northeast of Charing Cross. The Manor of Stoke Newington gave its name to Stoke Newington (parish), Stoke Newington, the ancient parish. S ...

, London.

References

External links

'Colonel Kitching of The Salvation Army Gives His Impressions Gained in Many Cities'
''

The New York Times ''The New York Times'' (''NYT'') is an American daily newspaper based in New York City. ''The New York Times'' covers domestic, national, and international news, and publishes opinion pieces, investigative reports, and reviews. As one of ...

'' 14 August 1915 {{DEFAULTSORT:Kitching, Theodore 1866 births 1930 deaths Commissioners in The Salvation Army Salvation Army officers English Salvationists Commanders of the Order of the British Empire Burials at Abney Park Cemetery