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Public Statues and Sculpture Association

Catherine Booth

Sculptor: George Edward Wade (1853-1933)

Founder: Morris Singer

Materials: Statue in bronze; pedestal in grey granite

Signed: GEO. WADE./SCULPTOR

Inscription: On pedestal: MRS CATHERINE BOOTH/ THE ARMY MOTHER /BORN JANUARY 17TH 1829 /PROMOTED TO GLORY /OCTOBER 4TH 1890

Unveiled: /dedicated on 8 July 1929

Listed: Grade II (1378474) first listed 27.9.1972, amended 17.9.1998

Catherine Booth

Catherine Booth (1829–1890), co-founder of the Salvation Army with her husband William (1829-1912), whom she married in 1855, Booth believed women had the same right to preach as men. In 1859 she wrote a pamphlet, Female Ministry: Woman’s Right to Preach the Gospel and delivered her first sermon at Gateshead a year later. Known as the ‘Mother of the Salvation Army’ she made extensive lecture tours and held evangelical rallies. She played a key role in the campaign for the Criminal Law Amendment Act against teenage prostitution. A pacifist, she opposed war and blood-sport. The statue pairs with that of her husband also by George Wade at the same location. There are later identical casts of their statues in fibreglass (2015) on Mile End Road, London.

Location: Forecourt William Booth College, Southwark Champion Park, Denmark Hill, London SE5.