Ivan Neill (priest)
| The Very Revd Ivan Neill CB OBE | |
|---|---|
| Birth name | Ivan Delacherois Neill |
| Born |
10 July 1912 Tipperary, Ireland |
| Died | 18 June 2001 (aged 88) |
| Allegiance |
 United Kingdom |
| Service/branch |
 British Army |
| Years of service | 1939 to 1966 |
| Service number | 89720 |
| Battles/wars | |
Ivan Delacherois Neill CB OBE (10 July 1912 – 18 June 2001) was an Anglican priest and British Army officer. He served as a military chaplain during World War II and served as Chaplain General from 1960 to 1966. After leaving the army, he was Provost of Sheffield Cathedral.[1]
Early life
Neill was born on 10 July 1912 at the Templeharry rectory in Tipperary, Ireland.[2][3] His father, the Rev. Robert Richard Neill, was a Church of Ireland minister who was later the Rector of Tooting Graveney.[2][4] He spent his early childhood in Cork.[3] He and his family left Ireland for England when the Irish War of Independence broke out.[2]
Having won a scholarship, he was educated at St Dunstan's College, an all-boys independent school in London.[3] His parents wanted him to become a missionary doctor so he began the study of medicine at the Medical College of St Bartholomew's Hospital. However, deciding that he was better suited to the priesthood, he left.[2] He went on to study theology at Jesus College, Cambridge and underwent priestly formation at the London College of Divinity.[2][3]
Ordained ministry
Neill was ordained at St Paul's Cathedral, London, in 1935.[3] He then served as a curate at St Mary's Church, West Kensington, where his father was the vicar.[2][3] In 1937, he moved to Christ Church, Crouch End.[2]
In 1939, he joined the Royal Army Chaplains' Department.[2] He was granted a temporary commission into the British Army on 18 April 1939 as a Chaplain to the Forces 4th class (equivalent in rank to captain).[5] He was posted to France with the 3rd Division as part of the British Expeditionary Force.[2] He was evacuated from Dunkirk on HMS Vivacious, a destroyer. During the crossing, he conducted a burial at sea for a soldier who died after they had left France.[3] His commission was confirmed on 1 October 1943.[6] In May 1945, he was a temporary Chaplain to the Forces 3rd class (equivalent to major).[7]
He remained an army chaplain after the war. He served for one year in Germany as Deputy Assistant Chaplain General with the I Corps, British Army of the Rhine.[2] He was promoted to Chaplain to the Forces 3rd class (equivalent to major) on 19 August 1947.[8]
He rose in time to be its Chaplain-General.[9] In 1966 he became Provost of Sheffield, a post he held until 1974.
Later life
He died on 18 June 2001.[2]
Honours and decorations
In May 1945, he was mentioned in despatches 'in recognition of gallant and distinguished services in North-West Europe'.[7] In May 1947, he was appointed Knight Officer of the Order of Orange-Nassau with swords by the Queen of the Netherlands 'in recognition of distinguished services in the cause of the Allies'.[10]
He was an Honorary Chaplain to the Queen.[11]
References
- ↑ National Church Institutions Database of Manuscripts and Archives
- 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 "The Very Reverend Ivan Neill". The Daily Telegraph. 22 June 2001. Retrieved 13 November 2014.
- 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 "The Very Rev Ivan Neill; Obituary". The Times. 17 July 2001. p. 21.
- ↑ “Who was Who” 1897-2007 London, A & C Black, 2007 ISBN 978-0-19-954087-7
- ↑ The London Gazette: no. 34617. p. 2589. 18 April 1939. Retrieved 13 November 2014.
- ↑ The London Gazette: (Supplement) no. 36856. p. 5905. 22 December 1944. Retrieved 14 November 2014.
- 1 2 The London Gazette: (Supplement) no. 37072. pp. 2456–2464. 8 May 1945. Retrieved 14 November 2014.
- ↑ The London Gazette: (Supplement) no. 38048. p. 3886. 15 August 1947. Retrieved 14 November 2014.
- ↑ The Times, Saturday, Oct 09, 1965; pg. 7; Issue 56448; col E Latest Appointments Chaplain-General To The Forces
- ↑ The London Gazette: (Supplement) no. 37961. pp. 2287–2289. 20 May 1947. Retrieved 14 November 2014.
- ↑ London Gazette 21 December 1962
| Military offices | ||
|---|---|---|
| Preceded by Victor Joseph Pike |
Chaplain-General to the Forces 1960–1966 |
Succeeded by John Ross Youens |
| Church of England titles | ||
| Preceded by John Howard Cruse |
Provost of Sheffield 1966–1974 |
Succeeded by Wilfred Frank Curtis |