NEVILLE, Charles, Rev (1873-1943)
Assembly memorial minute, 1943
The Rev. Charles Neville was born at Branxholme on November 22nd, 1873. Living when a young man at Ararat, his solid worth of Christian character was discerned by the Rev. J. J. Spalding, who engaged him in Home Mission work, and encouraged him towards the ministry. In the years 1900, 1901, and 1902 he did the Theological Course at Ormond College. He was sent as an exit student to Wycheproof in 1902, when the drought was at its height. He was ordained and inducted at Narracoorte on December 6th, 1903.
In 1907 he was translated to Beaufort, where he showed a specially keen interest in Sunday School work. In 1912 he was translated to Fitzroy, then a full charge, where he gave “three years of wholehearted, wise, and untiring service” (Rev. J. Barnaby), and gained a first-hand knowledge of social problems facing inner suburban work. His next charge was St. David’s, Newtown, where he was inducted in 1915. He was called in 1927 to Hawthorn West, where he remained for ten years, not only discharging the duties of the parish, but also for some years accepting responsibility for Abbotsford, where he preached every Sunday at 9.30 a.m. On November 1st, 1937, he accepted appointment to the charge of Melbourne North, where once again his interest in inner suburban work was fruitfully engaged. He had already had severe illness, but in 1942 a further illness compelled him, on October 31st, 1942, to resign from North Melbourne. There was partial improvement in his health, but on February 2nd, 1943, at the age of 69 years, he suddenly collapsed and died, while staying at the home of his son Douglas at Kilmore East.
Mr. Neville was a hard worker, and he took a full share of the wider work of the Church. He was Acting Convener of the Deaconess Council for a time, and from 1913 to 1917 was Convener of the Temperance Committee. But it was work for the soldiers and for St. Andrew’s Hospital that chiefly taxed his energies. His A.I.F. chaplaincy began when he was in Geelong. In 1917 he was with the 5th Battalion in France, where he won the respect of the men, and was mentioned in despatches. He returned in 1918, but his love for the A.I.F. continued. He became president of the Geelong R.S L., and a director of the Geelong R.S.L. Woollen Mills. Between the wars he did duty as camp chaplain, to the serious detriment of his bodily health. In the present war he became Senior Army Chaplain of our Church in 1941, and he organized, and became chairman of, the Soldiers’ Welfare Association. His illness put an end to these labours. A mobile canteen is on order, at a cost of about £570, for use in New Guinea. It will bear the inscription: “Presented by the Soldiers’ Welfare Association (Presbyterian Church of Victoria) in appreciation of the services of Senior Chaplain Charles Neville.”
In connection with St. Andrew’s Hospital, he joined the Committee in 1928, soon after coming to Hawthorn West. When in 1934 the Hospital Board was formed, he was its first chairman. He had already been Convener of the Building Committee, and of the House Committee (both exacting tasks), and a member of the Executive Committee. He succeeded the Rev. D.A. Cameron as Hospital Chaplain. The ground floor of the Second Wing has been named “The Charles Neville Floor. ” He will always be remembered for his valuable assistance in connection with the erection and administration of St. Andrew’s Hospital.
The Rev. Charles Neville was a faithful servant of the Church. His heart was ever tender to the suffering and the needy. Modest and unassuming, he bore heavy burdens for the Church, and said nothing of it. Having accepted responsibility, he was never found wanting. That steady reliability, discerned so early by Mr. Spalding, remained to the end. He was gifted with a fine capacity for the wise handling of practical affairs. He was diligent as a pastor, and in the pulpit the burden of his message was, “that Christ may dwell in your hearts through faith.”
In all his work he enjoyed the sympathetic and active co-operation of Mrs. Neville. To her, and to their son Douglas, the Assembly tenders its sincere sympathy.
Gender
- Male