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John Neale

1926 – 2020

Bishop of Ramsbury

Anglican priest Army officer
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About John Neale

Lived 1926 – 2020 (aged 93). John Neale was a British anglican priest and army officer.

John Robert Geoffrey Neale (21 September 1926 – 17 July 2020) was a British Anglican bishop. From 1974 to 1988, he was the first suffragan Bishop of Ramsbury in the Church of England and the first area bishop under that diocese's 1981–2009 area scheme.

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.

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Important facts

Birth century
Nationality
Education
King's College London, Felsted School
Positions held
Bishop of Ramsbury
Also known as
John Robert Geoffrey Neale, John R. G. Neale, John R. Neale, John Robert Neale, John Robert G. Neale, John G. Neale
moreJohn Geoffrey Neale, John R. Geoffrey Neale

People in John Neale's life

Named in this biography and alive at the same time

Contemporaries

People whose lives overlapped John Neale's

Frequently asked questions

Who was John Neale?

Bishop of Ramsbury

When was John Neale born?

John Neale was born on 21 September 1926.

When did John Neale die?

John Neale died on 17 July 2020.

What was John Neale's occupation?

John Neale was an anglican priest and army officer.

What nationality was John Neale?

John Neale was British.

Sources & further reading

· Wikipedia: John Neale

· Wikidata: Q6250197

· DBpedia: John Neale (bishop)

Cite this page

APA: Biography.guide. (2026). John Neale. https://biography.guide/john-neale-anglican-priest/

MLA: "John Neale." Biography.guide, https://biography.guide/john-neale-anglican-priest/.

Chicago: "John Neale." Biography.guide. https://biography.guide/john-neale-anglican-priest/.

Data last updated: 2026-09-20 · Spot an error? Report a correction.

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