David Steel (Church of Scotland minister)
Encyclopedia
David Steel was a Church of Scotland
minister.
From 1949 to 1957 he was minister of St Andrew's Church, Nairobi
, Kenya
. For much of that time, the then British Colony of Kenya was in civil unrest due to the Mau Mau Uprising
; Steel deplored the violence of the Mau Mau, but came to believe that the colonial government's response - which included detentions without trial and many executions - was disproportionate and immoral.
In January 1955 he spoke out against government policy in a sermon
at St Andrew's Church. The local English-language newspaper criticised Steel's intervention in politics, in an editorial titled "Who will rid us of this turbulent priest?" - thus implicitly drawing a parallel between Steel and Thomas Becket
.
Steel also helped to secure the early release of a number of detainees.
Steel returned to Scotland in 1957, and spent the rest of his ministry there, serving as minister at St. Michael's Parish Church, Linlithgow
. He was elected Moderator of the General Assembly of the Church of Scotland
in 1974-75. He retired in 1976, and died in Edinburgh in 2002, aged 92.
One of his sons, also David Steel
, now Lord Steel of Aikwood, is a prominent British Liberal Democrat
politician and former party leader.
Church of Scotland
The Church of Scotland, known informally by its Scots language name, the Kirk, is a Presbyterian church, decisively shaped by the Scottish Reformation....
minister.
From 1949 to 1957 he was minister of St Andrew's Church, Nairobi
Nairobi
Nairobi is the capital and largest city of Kenya. The city and its surrounding area also forms the Nairobi County. The name "Nairobi" comes from the Maasai phrase Enkare Nyirobi, which translates to "the place of cool waters". However, it is popularly known as the "Green City in the Sun" and is...
, Kenya
Kenya
Kenya , officially known as the Republic of Kenya, is a country in East Africa that lies on the equator, with the Indian Ocean to its south-east...
. For much of that time, the then British Colony of Kenya was in civil unrest due to the Mau Mau Uprising
Mau Mau Uprising
The Mau Mau Uprising was a military conflict that took place in Kenya between 1952 and 1960...
; Steel deplored the violence of the Mau Mau, but came to believe that the colonial government's response - which included detentions without trial and many executions - was disproportionate and immoral.
In January 1955 he spoke out against government policy in a sermon
Sermon
A sermon is an oration by a prophet or member of the clergy. Sermons address a Biblical, theological, religious, or moral topic, usually expounding on a type of belief, law or behavior within both past and present contexts...
at St Andrew's Church. The local English-language newspaper criticised Steel's intervention in politics, in an editorial titled "Who will rid us of this turbulent priest?" - thus implicitly drawing a parallel between Steel and Thomas Becket
Thomas Becket
Thomas Becket was Archbishop of Canterbury from 1162 until his murder in 1170. He is venerated as a saint and martyr by both the Roman Catholic Church and the Anglican Communion...
.
Steel also helped to secure the early release of a number of detainees.
Steel returned to Scotland in 1957, and spent the rest of his ministry there, serving as minister at St. Michael's Parish Church, Linlithgow
St. Michael's Parish Church, Linlithgow
St. Michael's Parish Church is one of the largest burgh churches in the Church of Scotland. It is one of two parishes serving the West Lothian county town of Linlithgow, the other being St. Ninian's Craigmailen...
. He was elected Moderator of the General Assembly of the Church of Scotland
Moderator of the General Assembly of the Church of Scotland
The Moderator of the General Assembly of Church of Scotland is a Minister, Elder or Deacon of the Church of Scotland chosen to "moderate" the annual General Assembly of the Church of Scotland, which is held for a week in Edinburgh every May....
in 1974-75. He retired in 1976, and died in Edinburgh in 2002, aged 92.
One of his sons, also David Steel
David Steel
David Martin Scott Steel, Baron Steel of Aikwood, KT, KBE, PC is a British Liberal Democrat politician who served as the Leader of the Liberal Party from 1976 until its merger with the Social Democratic Party in 1988 to form the Liberal Democrats...
, now Lord Steel of Aikwood, is a prominent British Liberal Democrat
Liberal Democrats
The Liberal Democrats are a social liberal political party in the United Kingdom which supports constitutional and electoral reform, progressive taxation, wealth taxation, human rights laws, cultural liberalism, banking reform and civil liberties .The party was formed in 1988 by a merger of the...
politician and former party leader.