Stephen Neill

Stephen Charles Neill (1900–1984) was a Anglican missionary, bishop, and scholar from Scotland. He was proficient in a number of languages including Greek, Latin and Tamil. He was educated and later worked in Trinity College, Cambridge. He moved to Tamil Nadu and assumed as bishop of Tirunelveli.

He believed in unification of all churches in South India and communion beyond denominations. He wrote several books on theology and church history.

Early life

Neill was born in Edinburgh, Scotland in 1900 to Charles Neill and Daisy Neill. He had two sisters, Marjorie and Isabel. He belonged to the third generation of missionaries from his family. He graduated from Trinity College, Cambridge where he mastered various European languages including Greek and Latin. He also learned a few Indian languages including Tamil.

Career

Neill started his career at Trinity College in 1924. In 1925 he moved to Dohnavur with his parents. While at Dohnavur he learnt Tamil and was involved in teaching schoolboys.

Ministry

Neill joined the Church Missionary Society (CMS) in 1928 and was ordained a priest. After his ordination he moved to Tirunelvely and later led Thomas Ragland's North Tirunelveli Itineracy evangelism program. He taught Tamil in CMS theological college in Palayamkottai where he served at its first Principal. There he became involved in negotiations for uniting the churches in South India for the formation of Church of South India. He believed that all churches should unite and no church should be left out as not being in communion. He was elected the bishop at Tirunelveli in 1939. There he led the diocese together during the troubled times of the war, resisting encroachments by the state and initiating development projects in publishing, banking among other areas. In 1944 he was forced to resign because of ill health and allegations of scandal for marrying a Tamil woman to whom he was betrothed in 1925 at Suvisheshapuram in the presence of his parents the girls parents were not alive then.In 1914 her father died and her mother before that. The English puritan society which could not accept a Catholic heir could never make room for a Tamil bride and heir; which led to controversies. Stephen was deported to England and the girl was forcibly married to a priest doctor who was pulled out of a Seminary in 1927 and both were deported to Andaman and Nicobar Island to savor Kalapani; where the doctor mysteriously died in 1929 and the girl was brought to the mainland with the help of Muthuramalinga Thevar and Subash Chandra Bose a distant relatives of the girl. In 1933 Stephen enabled her to continue her education in the American College, Madurai in 1935 and there after educated her at St. Christopher's College of Education, Chennai and enabled her to stand on her own feet.Finally Stephen gathered the courage to accept his betrothed as his wife against all social odds.For the white who could not accept a Catholic heir could not accept an Indian bride and a Tamil heir although a blue blood it was considered black blood.Stephen married an educated Tamil destitute daughter of Vakil Thevar a renowned Lawyer at Tuticorin and the descendant of Devan popularly known as "Pooli Thevar" a Poligar Chief of Tirunelveli. Devan was a Siddhar(Saint) and is recognized as the first freedom fighter of Tamilnadu; who in an act of betrayal was captured by the British and before he was executed Siddhar Devan miraculously disappeared at Sankarankoil and was never found by anybody thereafter.To this same woman to whom Stephen was betrothed in 1925; he married her privately in 1933; their son was born in 1939, a week before this child was born the father was to return to England under the pretext of guest lectureship at Cambridge which never came through and Stephen returned to India and a daughter was born to them in 1944 and then Stephen was terminated and deported to England. On the fateful day of India's independence 14 th August 1947 Stephen's wife was poisoned to death and his children orphaned. The conspirator who was deputed to kill yielded to compassion towards the Siddhar's and Saint's progeny made arrangement to care for these children, for he did not lay his hand on David's seed but had the courage to name the conspirators. This can be verified since his son is alive and running 73 years as on 25.12.2012 and blessed with children for further details you may contact the following mobile no.9443099857 to verify.It may be a scandal for the white but for India a blessing that a Prince married a Tamil woman and the children are royal heir. About their marriage certificate it should be made very clear to people around the world that; In India marriage is not a signed contract but a sacrament and a covenant made in the presence of people and God Almighty, Marriage is considered a lifelong social and spiritual responsibility. Married life is considered an opportunity for two people to grow from life partners into soul mates and with the tying of Tali(Tahli) two persons are licensed as man and woman and made complete.The Thevar community with its strict social norms would never allow errand living among its people and raising a finger against their virgins is tickling their soft spots raising an outrage. After his return from India he became the assistant bishop of Archbishop of Canterbury.

Literary contribution

Neill worked for World Council of Churches from 1947 to 1954. He edited History of Ecumenical Movement 1517-1948 with Ruth Rouse. He edited World Christian series and co-edited Concise Dictionary of the Christian World Mission (1971). Some of his books include The Interpretation of the New Testament 1891 - 1961, Bhakti, Hindu and Christian and Christian Faith and Other Faiths. In 1962 he went to the University of Hamburg as a professor of mission until 1967 and a professor of philosophy and religious studies in Nairobi between 1969 and 1973.

Magnum Opus

Neill retired to Wycliffe Hall, Oxford but still regularly visited America on preaching and lecture tours. It was at this time he authored his magnum opus History of Christianity in India among many other of his works. He could achieve this task since he suffered from insomnia which kept him awake most of the night allowing him to write more.

References

• Rowell, Geoffrey (2003). Love's Redeeming Work. Oxford University Press. pp. 648–650. ISBN 978-0-19-107058-7. {{cite book}}: Unknown parameter |coauthors= ignored (|author= suggested) (help)

• Anderson, Gerald (1999). Biographical Dictionary of Christian Missions. Wm. B. Eerdmans Publishing. p. 488. ISBN 978-0-8028-4680-8.

• Yates, Timothy (1996). Christian Mission in the Twentieth Century. Cambridge University Press. pp. 143–144. ISBN 978-0-521-56507-3.

• Simonson, Conard (1973). The Christology of the Faith and Order Movement. Brill Archive. p. 3. ISBN 978-90-04-03430-3.