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	World War II Battle of France

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

1. National Church Institutions Database of Manuscripts and Archives
2. "The Very Reverend Ivan Neill". The Daily Telegraph. 22 June 2001. Retrieved 13 November 2014.
3. "The Very Rev Ivan Neill; Obituary". The Times. 17 July 2001. p. 21.
4. “Who was Who” 1897-2007 London, A & C Black, 2007 ISBN 978-0-19-954087-7
5. The London Gazette: no. 34617. p. 2589. 18 April 1939. Retrieved 13 November 2014.
6. The London Gazette: (Supplement) no. 36856. p. 5905. 22 December 1944. Retrieved 14 November 2014.
7. The London Gazette: (Supplement) no. 37072. pp. 2456–2464. 8 May 1945. Retrieved 14 November 2014.
8. The London Gazette: (Supplement) no. 38048. p. 3886. 15 August 1947. Retrieved 14 November 2014.
9. The Times, Saturday, Oct 09, 1965; pg. 7; Issue 56448; col E Latest Appointments Chaplain-General To The Forces
10. The London Gazette: (Supplement) no. 37961. pp. 2287–2289. 20 May 1947. Retrieved 14 November 2014.
11. London Gazette 21 December 1962