Commissioner Helen Clifton

Commissioner Helen Clifton, former World President of Women's Ministries, was promoted to Glory at 9.20pm London time on Tuesday 14 June 2011. The commissioner, who had been ill for some time, was promoted to Glory from St Christopher's Hospice in south London. Her husband, General Shaw Clifton (Retired), was at her bedside.


Announcing the news, the Chief of the Staff (Commissioner Barry C. Swanson) wrote: 'I ask for your prayers for General Shaw Clifton (Retired) and his loved ones as they live through these sad days of great loss. We thank God for the life and faithful ministry of Commissioner Helen Clifton and commit her loved ones to the Lord's care.'

Commissioner Clifton was The Salvation Army's World President of Women's Ministries from 2006 until her retirement in April this year. She was commissioned as a Salvation Army officer in 1973 and served in the UK, Zimbabwe, the USA, Pakistan and New Zealand, Fiji and Tonga.

Please remember the family in your prayers at this time. They have three children, Captain Matt, who has served within our own division here and currently works on THQ, and is known well to our own officers. His wife is our divisional youth officer. Their son, Cadet John, is to be commissioned as an officer this summer, and will also marry then as well. Their daughter serves as an officer in New Zealand.