The Composers

Born in Blantyre, Scotland on 13 November 1934, John Gowans was born into a Salvation Army officer family. His journey with Salvation Army officership began when he entered the International Training College in London in 1954 as a cadet of the ‘Soulwinners’ session. It was there he met Cadet Gisèle Bonhotal from Paris, whom he married in 1957. Together they had two sons, John-Marc and Christophe.

Throughout his career, Gowans served in various leadership roles within the Salvation Army. He and Gisèle spent 16 years as corps officers in the British Territory, followed by administrative appointments in both Britain and the USA Western Territory. They served as divisional leaders in both territories and spent eleven years in France, eventually becoming territorial leaders there. Their service continued with territorial leadership roles in the Australia Eastern and United Kingdom territories.

John Gowans served as the international leader of The Salvation Army from 1999 to 2002. During his term as General, he was known for his passionate focus on the Army’s fundamental mission, which he memorably defined as “saving souls, growing saints and serving suffering humanity.” He implemented bold reforms to the conditions of service for officers and expanded the General’s advisory circle by creating the General’s Consultative Council.

His creative legacy is particularly evident in his musical contributions. Together with John Larsson, he co-authored ten musicals that have been performed throughout the Salvation Army world. He wrote more than 200 songs, many of which originated in these musicals. His gift for expressing deep theological thoughts in accessible ways led to his songs being widely sung across the Army world. Beyond music, he authored three books of prayer poems under the title “O Lord” and, in retirement, reached thousands through his writings for “Words of Life.”

Gowans was renowned for his unique personality and diverse gifts. He combined the qualities of an unconventional thinker, an arresting speaker, and a charismatic leader with the dynamism of a man of action and the creativity of a poet. His preaching was particularly memorable, with vivid, pointed, and prophetic messages that left lasting impacts on his audiences, notably at the International Millennial Congress 2000 in Atlanta.

General John Gowans was promoted to Glory on 8 December 2012, at the age of 78, leaving behind a rich legacy of leadership, creativity, and service that continues to influence The Salvation Army today.

Born in Sweden on 2 April 1938, John Larsson was the son of Salvation Army officer parents. His early years were marked by international experience, living in Sweden, Denmark, Chile, and Argentina. By the age of 12, he was already fluent in Swedish, Danish, English, and Spanish, reflecting the global nature of his upbringing.

Following his family’s return to the UK from South America, Larsson entered the International Training College in London from his home corps of Upper Norwood. He was commissioned as a Salvation Army officer on 17 May 1957. His early service included a year as corps officer at Sunderland Southwick with Washington, followed by seven years on the staff at the International Training College. On 5 July 1969, he married Captain Freda Turner, and together they served at various corps including Hillingdon, Ealing, and Bromley Temple.

Throughout his career, Larsson held numerous significant leadership positions within the Salvation Army. These included roles as Territorial Youth Secretary in Scotland, Chief Secretary in South America West, Principal of the International Training College, and the complex task of establishing the United Kingdom Territory. He went on to serve as Territorial Commander in the newly formed United Kingdom Territory, followed by leadership roles in New Zealand and Fiji, and Sweden and Latvia.

His partnership with John Gowans in creating Salvation Army musicals stands as one of his most enduring creative legacies. Together they wrote and produced ten full-length musicals that have been performed throughout the Salvation Army world. Beyond the musicals, he was also known for his own musical compositions and his skill at the piano. His contributions to Salvation Army literature included several significant works such as “Doctrine without Tears,” “The Man Perfectly Filled with the Spirit,” “Spiritual Breakthrough,” “1929,” and “Those Incredible Booths.”

In 1999, he was appointed as Chief of the Staff by General John Gowans, and later was elected to serve as the Salvation Army’s 17th General, a position he held from 13 November 2002, until his retirement on 2 April 2006. His leadership was characterised by his gentle and unassuming nature, combined with a depth of spirituality that left a lasting impact on the Army worldwide.

General John Larsson was promoted to Glory on 18 March 2022, at his home in Bromley, London. His legacy lives on through his musical and literary works, but perhaps more significantly through the spiritual impact he had on people of all ages throughout the Salvation Army world. As General Brian Peddle noted, “Shaking hands with General John Larsson was like shaking hands with the Salvation Army itself.”