Gerrit Govaars
Encyclopedia
Gerrit Jurriaan Govaars (19 April 1866, Amsterdam
- 22 October 1954, Soest) was a Dutch teacher who was instrumental in setting up the Salvation Army
in Holland, and in engineering its spread through the various Dutch territories. In Dutch-speaking areas, the Salvation Army is called the 'Leger des Heils
'.
Govaars (as 'Lieutenant Gerrit J. Govaars'), together with the English officers Captain and Mrs Joseph K. Tyler, commenced Army work in the Gerard Doustraat, Amsterdam, on 8 May, 1887. Operations soon spread throughout the country and reached Indonesia (then the 'Dutch East Indies
') in 1894. Further advances were made in 1926 in Surinam and in 1927 in Curaçao.
As 'Colonel Gerrit J. Govaars', he was a recipient of the Salvation Army's 'Order Of The Founder' in 1947. Govaars composed a number of hymns that the 'Leger des Heils' employed in their activities. His grandson Robert Simpson
was a noted English
composer
.
Amsterdam
Amsterdam is the largest city and the capital of the Netherlands. The current position of Amsterdam as capital city of the Kingdom of the Netherlands is governed by the constitution of August 24, 1815 and its successors. Amsterdam has a population of 783,364 within city limits, an urban population...
- 22 October 1954, Soest) was a Dutch teacher who was instrumental in setting up the Salvation Army
Salvation Army
The Salvation Army is a Protestant Christian church known for its thrift stores and charity work. It is an international movement that currently works in over a hundred countries....
in Holland, and in engineering its spread through the various Dutch territories. In Dutch-speaking areas, the Salvation Army is called the 'Leger des Heils
Leger des Heils
The Leger des Heils is the name of the Dutch arm of The Salvation Army.The Leger des Heils was largely established by a Dutch teacher, Gerrit Govaars, who together with the English officers Captain and Mrs Joseph K...
'.
Govaars (as 'Lieutenant Gerrit J. Govaars'), together with the English officers Captain and Mrs Joseph K. Tyler, commenced Army work in the Gerard Doustraat, Amsterdam, on 8 May, 1887. Operations soon spread throughout the country and reached Indonesia (then the 'Dutch East Indies
Dutch East Indies
The Dutch East Indies was a Dutch colony that became modern Indonesia following World War II. It was formed from the nationalised colonies of the Dutch East India Company, which came under the administration of the Netherlands government in 1800....
') in 1894. Further advances were made in 1926 in Surinam and in 1927 in Curaçao.
As 'Colonel Gerrit J. Govaars', he was a recipient of the Salvation Army's 'Order Of The Founder' in 1947. Govaars composed a number of hymns that the 'Leger des Heils' employed in their activities. His grandson Robert Simpson
Robert Simpson (composer)
Robert Simpson was an English composer and long-serving BBC producer and broadcaster.He is best known for his orchestral and chamber music , and for his writings on the music of Beethoven, Bruckner, Nielsen and Sibelius. He studied composition under Herbert Howells...
was a noted English
England
England is a country that is part of the United Kingdom. It shares land borders with Scotland to the north and Wales to the west; the Irish Sea is to the north west, the Celtic Sea to the south west, with the North Sea to the east and the English Channel to the south separating it from continental...
composer
Composer
A composer is a person who creates music, either by musical notation or oral tradition, for interpretation and performance, or through direct manipulation of sonic material through electronic media...
.