Florence Eleanor Soper

Florence Eleanor Soper (Blaina, Monmouthshire, Wales, 12 September 1861-10 June 1957) was the wife of Bramwell Booth, 2nd General of The Salvation Army.

Family Background

She was the eldest daughter of Dr. Isbel Soper and his wife, Jenny Soper (nee Levick), and had two sisters and a brother. Her mother died when she was only nine years old, and she lived with an aunt until her father, a doctor, remarried. She was a gifted girl fond of reading and music and also had a secret ambition to become a doctor.

The Salvation Army

Florence had just passed her last school examination and was visiting her two aunts in London when she heard Catherine Booth speak and made the decision to follow Christ and learn more about the army. She became friendly with the Booth family including their son Bramwell and on the 12th of October 1882 she was married to Bramwell Booth who in 1912 was to become the 2nd General of The Salvation Army.

The Women's Social Work

Life for women in the early 1880s was difficult. Jobs were scarce, and prostitution was rampant. Girls as young as 13 were selling themselves or being sold for money. When Florence Booth, General William Booth’s daughter-in-law and pioneer of The Salvation Army’s social work for women, caught wind of this travesty she knew The Salvation Army needed to do something. She and her husband, Bramwell Booth, The Salvation Army’s second General, were moved as they walked the streets of London and saw the desperation and despair. Florence championed the cause and helped bring social reform.In 1884 Florence inaugurated The Women's Social Work which was run from a small house in Hanbury Street, Whitechapel, London. She continued to lead this pioneering aspect of The Salvation Army's work for the next 28 years, until Bramwell became General.

One of the tangible ways The Salvation Army helped these destitute women was by opening homes for women in the hopes they would not have to turn to prostitution and providing a safe haven for those who were already suffering from the trade. Many of the residents were young, expectant mothers. Realizing the need for additional care for pregnant women, The Salvation Army opened rescue homes across the globe.

Seven Children

Florence and Bramwell Booth had five daughters and two sons: Catherine, Mary B., Florence Miriam, Olive E., Dora, Bramwell Bernard, and William Wycliffe. When Florence died, she was buried with Bramwell at Abney Park Cemetery.

References

International Heritage Centre: Florence Soper

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