Former General promoted to glory
Former General promoted to glory
5 November 2019
General Bramwell H. Tillsley (ret.) was promoted to glory from The Salvation Army Meighen Retirement Residence in Toronto.
Bramwell H. Tillsley, the 14th General of The Salvation Army, was promoted to glory on 2 November from his home in Toronto, Canada.
Bramwell was elected as The Salvation Army’s international leader in July 1993 and was in office until May 1994. He was General for only 10 months and nine days before stepping down for health reasons.
He was territorial commander of the former Australia Southern Territory from 1989 to 1991.
Bramwell was born in Kitchener, Ontario, Canada, on 18 August 1931 to Salvationists Harold and Doris Tillsley, who had emigrated from England to Canada just a few years before. He accepted Christ at a young age and became actively involved at Kitchener Citadel, including as a junior soldier, corps cadet, bandsman and cornet soloist.
In 1953, Bramwell married Maude Pitcher and together they entered the Toronto College for Officer Training in 1955 as cadets in the Sword Bearers session. Upon their commissioning in 1956, they were appointed as corps officers in Windsor, Nova Scotia, followed by Oakville, Ontario.
They served for the next six years at the Toronto training college before their appointments as divisional youth officers in Saskatchewan and corps officers at North Toronto Citadel in 1966. In 1969, the Tillsleys returned to the Toronto training college, where Bramwell took up the position of education officer. He went on to become a training principal, first at the training college in St John’s, Newfoundland, and then in the USA Eastern Territory.
In 1977, the Tillsleys returned to Newfoundland, with Bramwell appointed as the provincial commander. The position of divisional commander in the Metro Toronto Division followed.
Bramwell became principal of the International Training College in London in 1981, chief secretary of the USA Southern Territory in 1985 and was promoted to the rank of commissioner when he was appointed as territorial commander to the Australia Southern Territory in 1989. In 1991, he was appointed as Chief of the Staff at International Headquarters in London, UK.
In 1993, on being elected General, Bramwell, together with his wife Maude (World President of Women’s Organisations), travelled the world, nurturing Salvationists in their faith and highlighting the work of The Salvation Army.
Bramwell received a bachelor of arts degree in philosophy from the University of Western Ontario and furthered his studies at Wycliffe College in Toronto. He was a gifted writer and communicator who authored many books on biblical studies and holiness, including Life in the Spirit, This Mind in You and Manpower for the Master.
Bramwell was predeceased by his wife, who was promoted to glory in 2014.
Loving prayers are extended to the General’s sister, Lieut-Colonel Audrey Wilder, and his children and their families – the Rev. Dr Barbara Robinson, Commissioner Mark Tillsley and John Tillsley.
The current international leader of The Salvation Army, General Brian Peddle, writes: “As a Canadian officer, I have experienced the impact of General Tillsley’s leadership for more than four decades. I have valued his writings and enjoyed his preaching and teaching while noting his Christian character. Servant of God, well done!”
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