Education
He was educated at Pukekawa College and the University of Canterbury.
- Photos
- Works
- Photos
- Works
Leslie Neale
Edit ProfileCareer
Neale offered for the ministry in 1908 and was ordained in 1915 at Christchurch. The conference of the following year approved his chaplaincy with the armed forces. Neale arrived in France in 1917 with the 22nd Reinforcements, saw action at Ypres and Passchendaele (where he was seriously wounded), and worked with the Commonwealth War Graves Commission at Gallipoli.
On his return to New Zealand he worked in Dunedin and Christchurch ministering to the poor.
With the onset of the great depression, he was instrumental in setting up the first work relief stations in the Christchurch suburb of Papanui. In 1929-1931 Neale was elected to the Christchurch City Council.
As the depression subsided Neale setup up an early radio show and later health camps funded by special stamps. When broke out, Neale was elected president of the Methodist Church in 1940.
At the time, the church forbade use of the pulpit to promote either recruitment or conscientious objection and as president Neale was critical of some pacifist ministers for breaking the policy.
In 1948 he was awarded an Administration Member of the Order of the British Empire for his long sustained community services. Neale retired in Auckland in 1951, and died on 26 August 1959.
Achievements
-
Born
-
Died
August 26, 1959 (aged 73) -
Nationality
New Zealand