Researching John Neale

Neale was educated at Felsted School and then served in the Royal Artillery during World War II. He completed his studies at King's College London and St Boniface's Warminster, then began his ordained ministry as a curate in St Helier. He was made a deacon on Trinity Sunday 1955 (5 June) and ordained a priest the following Trinity Sunday (27 May 1956) – both times by Bertram Simpson, Bishop of Southwark, at Southwark Cathedral. He was then, successively, the chaplain of Ardingly College, Secretary of the Advisory Council for Church Ministry, Canon Missioner for the Diocese of Guildford and Rector of St Peter's Hascombe before his consecration to the episcopate on 24 January 1974 by Michael Ramsey, Archbishop of Canterbury, at Westminster Abbey. From October that year until 1980, he also served as Archdeacon of Wilts in the same diocese. From 1991 he was an assistant bishop in the Diocese of Bristol, having moved into Corsham, Wiltshire as well as, simultaneously, in the Diocese of Gloucester from 1994.

He died in July 2020, at the age of 93. His papers are housed at the National Church Institutions Database of Manuscripts and Archives.

J. Henry Neale was born in New York City in 1896 to John Henry Neale Sr. and Hilda Peterson. His mother died in 1903 when he was 6 years old. That same year, Henry's father, John H. Neale I remarried Miss Emily R. Jones. Henry grew to have a strained relationship with his father and step-mother, moving out to live with his grandmother Elizabeth Aldridge (Elizabeth Clara Blunt Neale Aldridge). The widowed Mrs. Aldridge was John Neale I's mother who had remarried a Tiffany & Co. watchmaker. Henry was raised in Manhattan.

Henry served during World War I. After the war, he met Lillian Osborn Wick while entertaining in the same social circles of Brooklyn Society. Lill attended Packer Collegiate Institute for formal schooling and was the daughter of Society Woman Essie Wick Rowland and Andrew Wick, a businessman. Henry and Lill married in 1923. The wedding was held at St. Bartholomew's Episcopal Church (Manhattan).

After serving in WW1, Henry began working at the Ellerman Lines British shipping company in the New York City office. He quickly moved up to become the American Director of the company. During his tenure, Henry traveled many times across the Atlantic to London to conduct business. He became socialized with the leadership of the Lloyd's of London and members of Parliament. His reputation grew in American trading and shipping circles—notably, he was a member of the Whitehall Club and dined with Winston Churchill.

Henry and Lill settled into Larchmont, NY where they continued to entertain New York company as well as raise their two sons, Thomas and John. In their free time, the family enjoyed civic engagement, golf, tennis, and sailing. Henry became the President of the Larchmont Yacht Club. The family summered in Maine until Henry purchased an estate in the Hamptons from Frank Case. This estate would become Henry's full-time home after he retired. Out in Sag Harbor he enjoyed membership with the local yacht clubs and served as Mayor. Henry and his wife spent their winters in Florida at the Breakers Hotel.

Both his sons married and had children. John Henry Neale III's wedding reception was held at the Plaza Hotel.

J. Henry Neale died on his Hamptons estate in Sag Harbor, New York in 1961. He is buried in Green-Wood Cemetery in Brooklyn, NY.

His wife, Lill, managed the estate for another 30 years hosting social events and their 6 grand kids every summer.