Frederick W. Neve

Archdeacon Frederick W. Neve - Emmanuel Episcopal Greenwood

Frederick William Neve (December 8, 1855-November 16, 1948) was an Episcopal minister who came to Virginia from England in 1888 and served at St. Paul's Episcopal Church in Ivy and Emmanuel Episcopal Church in Greenwood. Neve Hall south of Charlottesville was dedicated in 1925 for Dr. Neve and initially served as a residency for the Archdeaconry of the Blue Ridge.

Biography

Neve was born in 1855 in Kent, England. He was ordained a deacon in 1880 following his graduation from Merton College, Oxford. After his ordination, he served as the assistant in the Church of England for several years and in 1888 came to Virginia to serve as rector of an Episcopal parish in Albemarle County. His first response to the invitation was to tell the publisher of the ad, "I will come," despite never having left England before. The parish included St. Paul’s Church at Ivy, and Emmanuel Church, at Greenwood.

During his time at Emmanuel Episcopal, Neve was particularly close with Nancy Witcher Langhorne Astor, an heiress who lived at the Mirador estate nearby. He was considered her spiritual advisor, and the two went on horseback rides through the Blue Ridge Mountains.

In 1926, Neve sought to establish an "Order of the Thousandfold", which called upon members to recite the following prayer every day of their life in the name of world peace:

"Almighty God, our Heavenly Father, Who with Thy Son Jesus Christ hast given unto us all things in heaven and earth, we beseech Thee to make us a thousandfold more useful to Thee than ever before, so that Thy power and blessing may flow through us to multitudes of others who are in need, and also make us more willing and loving servants of Thine to Thy honor and glory for Jesus Christ’s sake. Amen"

Saint Paul's Episcopal Church: Sketch

Dr. Neve died on November 16, 1948 (aged 92), at which point he was buried in Saint Paul's Cemetery, Ivy, Albemarle County. The inscription on his gravestone reads: "Rector of Ivy Parish 1888-1923; Archdeacon of the Blue Ridge 1904-1948." Twice married, he was survived by three daughters (two from his first marriage and one by the second marriage)

Mountain Mission Work

Neve founded his first mission church, St. John the Baptist, in 1890 in the Ragged Mountains. Ten years later, he supported the placement of a teacher at Simmon's Gap. In 1904, the Annual Council of the Episcopal Diocese of Virginia created an Archdeaconry of the Blue Ridge, and appointed Neve its leader. This organization was meant to oversee outreach to seven rural counties in the Blue Ridge Mountains.

In 1909, the Advisory Board of the Archdeaconry began publishing Our Mountain Work, a monthly newsletter recounting the work they had accomplished and raising money for new missions and the construction and upkeep of schools in the Blue Ridge.

By November of 1918, Neve and the Archdeaconry had established 27 churches, 15 schools, and two hospitals, as well as homes for the employees of all such mission points.

Notable events

• November 24, 1902 – Daily Progress features an article on Neve which includes an account he wrote of his early missions to the Ragged Mountains and Greene County: "The condition of the poor children appealed to me, and I determined to do something to alter the conditions of things in this neglected community."
• 1904 – Appointed Archdeacon of the Blue Ridge.
• January 1, 1917 – Reverend Frederick W. Neve wrote these words in his diary: "Desire to be a thousand times more useful than ever before.”
• 1926 – Dr. Neve founded the Order of the Thousandfold, which spread to many parts of the world.