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FRANCES JOHNSON 1907-2005

Kindness and efficiency

Margaret Davies, Frances’ oldest daughter, wrote the following tribute:

Frances Johnson was born on Christmas Day, into an army family, which moved between England and India. When her father retired, he joined the Soldiers Christian Association, and served for many years in India. Frances enjoyed growing up in India, where she became an accomplished pianist and organist, and did her teacher training.

She became a missionary teacher in the English Mission College, Cairo, where she met her husband, Arthur, who was later ordained. They married in Egypt and joined the Church Missionary Society. Arthur worked at the church, two schools and Harpur Memorial Hospital, Menouf. Frances supported all the work and was known for her efficiency. A nursing sister who was planning a Christmas party said, “Let Frances do it – she breathes organisation!”

World War II interrupted their service in Egypt, but they returned in 1943, and with four young children eventually moved to Cairo where Arthur was in charge of a church. Happy Summer holidays were spent in Cyprus, walking and riding donkeys in the mountains.

In 1951 the family came to England, where post war life was much harder than abroad. Frances supported Arthur’s work in two London churches. Then together they served in three Christian missions, including BibleLands, and Christ Church and Hostel, Jerusalem, where Frances was known both for her organisational skills and her kindness.

After Arthur’s death in 1978, Frances wrote her life story, a tribute to her husband and a very moving account of her feelings, concluding with these words, “God has been good, and I have had a deep personal faith and reliance on him for 60 years at least, and he will never leave me or forsake me, so I place my trust in him.”

Frances Johnson