D. T. Niles

Daniel Thambyrajah Niles (4 May 1908 – 17 July 1970) was a Ceylonese pastor, evangelist and president of the Ceylon Methodist Conference.

Reverend

D. T. Niles
Born(1908-05-04)4 May 1908
Tellippalai, Ceylon
Died17 July 1970(1970-07-17) (aged 62)
Alma materJaffna Central College
United Theological College, Bangalore
OccupationPastor/Theologian

Early life and family

Niles was born on 4 May 1908 in Tellippalai in northern Ceylon.[1] He was the son of district judge W. D. Niles and Rani Muthamma.[2] He was educated at Jaffna Central College.[1][2] After school he received theological training at United Theological College, Bangalore between 1920 and 1933.[2]

Mailvaganam married Dulcie Solomons in 1935.[2] They had two sons (Preman and Wesley Dayalan).[2]

Career

After returning to Ceylon Niles taught at Jaffna Central College until 1936.[2] He was then ordained as a priest and became District Evangelist for the North District of the Methodist Church of Ceylon.[2]

Niles became general secretary of the National Christian Council of Ceylon.[2] He was chairman of the Youth Department of the World Council of Churches between 1948 and 1952.[2] He was appointed Executive Secretary of the Department of Evangelism in the World Council of Churches in 1953.[1] He also served as chairman of the World Student Christian Federation.[1] He was general secretary and later chairman of the East Asian Christian Conference.[1] He was also one of the presidents of the World Council of Churches.[1]

Niles was pastor of the Methodist Church in Point Pedro (1946–50); pastor at Maradana (1950–53); principal of Jaffna Central College (1956–62); and superintendent minister at St. Peter's Church, Jaffna (1953–59).[2] He was elected chairman of the North Ceylon Synod and president of the Ceylon Methodist Conference in 1964.[2] Niles wrote the hymn "The Great love of God is revealed in the Son".[3]

Death

Niles died on 17 July 1970.[2]

References
  1. Fernando, Ransiri J. (30 June 2004). "Rev. Dr. D T Niles - Memorable personality". Daily News (Sri Lanka). Archived from the original on 16 February 2005.
  2. Arumugam, S. (1997). Dictionary of Biography of the Tamils of Ceylon. p. 124.
  3. Methodist Publishing House, Hymns and Psalms, 1983
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