The worldwide legacy of General John Larsson
The worldwide legacy of General John Larsson
7 April 2022
General John Larsson led international The Salvation Army from 2002-2006.
The Salvation Army’s Chief of the Staff, Commissioner Lyndon Buckingham, reflects on the worldwide legacy and influence of General John Larsson (Ret.), the Army’s 17th international leader, who was Promoted to Glory on 18 March 2022.
General John Larsson and Commissioner Freda Larsson on a tour of Bangladesh in 2003.
Born in Sweden on 2 April 1938, the son of officer parents, John spent his early years in Sweden, Denmark, Chile, and Argentina. By the age of 12, he was fluent in Swedish, Danish, English, and Spanish!
Following the family’s return to the United Kingdom from service in South America, he entered the International Training College in London from his home corps of Upper Norwood as a cadet in the Faithful session. He was commissioned as a Salvation Army officer on 17 May 1957.
His first appointment as a corps officer was at Sunderland Southwick in England’s north-east, where he served for just one year before returning to serve on the staff at the International Training College, where he remained for the next seven years. He received the rank of captain in May 1960.
In May 1966, he returned to corps leadership in London, first at Hillingdon and then at Ealing, and it was while here that he married Captain Freda Turner on 5 July 1969. Together they moved to Bromley Temple Corps in May 1970, where they served for the next four years, receiving the rank of major in August 1971.
In January 1974, the Larssons were appointed to the former Scotland Territory, where John served as Territorial Youth Secretary before returning to the British Territory in October 1976. Here, he served firstly as Assistant National Youth Secretary and then, from April 1977 until May 1980, as National Youth Secretary.
A worldwide legacy and influence
A term of overseas service commenced in May 1980 with John, now a lieutenant-colonel, appointed as Chief Secretary in the South America West Territory. This was followed in 1984 by a return to London and to the International Training College, where he rose to the rank of colonel and served as Principal for the next four years.
The Larssons meet Pope Benedict during a visit to Rome in 2005.
July 1988 brought a move to International Headquarters, where John was appointed as Assistant to the Chief of the Staff for United Kingdom Administrative Planning. This role involved the complex task of researching and planning for the separation of The Salvation Army’s international and national administrations in the UK, which ultimately led to the establishment of the United Kingdom Territory with the Republic of Ireland [now the United Kingdom and Ireland Territory] in November 1990.
With the rank of commissioner, John was appointed the first Territorial Commander of this new territory. This was followed by further territorial leadership, firstly in the then New Zealand and Fiji Territory (1993-1996) and then in the Sweden and Latvia Territory (1996-1999). In October 1997, John was appointed as a member of the Advisory Council to the General, becoming its chairman in March 1998.
In 1999, General John Gowans appointed John as his Chief of the Staff. This appointment commenced on 1 August 1999, and it was while in this appointment that he was elected to serve as The Salvation Army’s 17th General.
Faithful and humble servant of God
John served in this appointment as the worldwide leader from 13 November 2002 until he retired from active officership service on 2 April 2006.
It is almost impossible to quantify the worldwide legacy and influence of General John Larsson. He was a faithful and humble servant of God who shared his God-given gifts of writing and music throughout the Army world. Among other literary works, he was the author of Doctrine without Tears, The Man Perfectly Filled with the Spirit, Spiritual Breakthrough, 1929, and Those Incredible Booths.
John Larsson looks on as John Gowans takes the microphone during a Gowans and Larsson celebration evening in London.
Known extensively throughout The Salvation Army world and beyond for his collaboration with General John Gowans in the writing and production of 10 full-length musicals, the impact of John Larsson’s contribution to Salvation Army heritage cannot be overestimated.
His music, both in the context of the musicals and his composition of words and music for many other songs, has had a significant spiritual impact on people of all ages.
Those who had the privilege of hearing him play his own compositions at the piano will also surely not forget that experience. However, it should be remembered that the influence of John Larsson’s own character, his gentle and unassuming nature and his depth of spirituality also remains an integral part of his legacy to The Salvation Army throughout the world.
In giving thanks to God for the gift that was General John Larsson, we offer our condolences and assurance of our prayers to Commissioner Freda Larsson, to their sons Karl and Kevin, and to their wider families. To them, we offer these words, set to beautiful music by John himself and based on Philippians 4:6-7.
The Lord is near; have no anxiety,
Make your requests known to God in prayer.
Then the peace of God,
Which is beyond our understanding,
Will keep guard o’er your hearts and thoughts.
We pray that the experience of this truth will surround and enfold Commissioner Freda Larsson and her family at this time.
The Service of Thanksgiving will be live-streamed from William Booth College on Friday 8 April, 7.30pm (Saturday 9 April, 4.30am AEST) on youtube.com/salvationarmyvideo
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