Donald Soper
Encyclopedia
Donald Oliver Soper, Baron Soper (31 January 1903 – 22 December 1998) was a prominent Methodist minister
, socialist and pacifist.
Soper was born at 36 Knoll Road, Wandsworth
, London
, the first son and first child of the three children of Ernest Frankham Soper (1871–1962), an average adjuster in marine insurance, the son of a tailor, and his wife, Caroline Amelia, née
Pilcher (b. 1877), a headmistress and daughter of a builder.
He was educated at Aske's School
in south London
, at St. Catharine's College
and Wesley House
in the University of Cambridge
, and at the London School of Economics
, where he took his PhD
. He was an exceptional sportsman who captained his school at football, cricket
, and boxing
, but he withdrew from cricket after he accidentally killed an opposing batsman with a fast delivery when bowling.
Soper offered as a candidate for the Methodist ministry, and while still a probationary minister (in his first appointment), he sought larger congregations by taking to open air preaching in imitation of the founders of Methodism. From 1926 until well into his nineties, he preached at London's centres for free speech, Tower Hill
and (from 1942) Speakers' Corner
in Hyde Park
; he was often referred to as "Dr Soapbox" in honour of the outdoor preacher's chief piece of apparatus. He was controversial and quick-thinking, and drew large crowds.
Early in his ministry, Soper was radicalised by the inner-city poverty that he witnessed. He became an active member of the Labour Party
and much of his preaching was concerned with the political implications of the Christian gospel; late in life, he offended many conservatives by his fiercely expressed argument that the policies of Margaret Thatcher
were inherently incompatible with Christianity
. From 1936 until his retirement in 1978, he was the minister of Kingsway Hall
, a "Central hall" within the Methodist church and the home of the West London Methodist Mission
http://www.wlm.org.uk/wlm_hist.htm which exercised a ministry of practical care for marginalised groups such as the homeless, unmarried mothers and alcoholics. He served as President of the Methodist Conference in 1953–54.
Soper took up many radical causes. As well as being a socialist, he was a teetotaler, a vigorous opponent of blood sports (he was President of the League Against Cruel Sports
from 1967 to 1997) and gambling
(he criticised the British Royal Family's
association with horse racing
), and most notably, a pacifist. He joined the Peace Pledge Union
in 1937 and preached pacifism throughout the Second World War, being deemed so effective that he was banned from broadcasting on the BBC
. After the War he became a regular broadcaster on BBC's Thought for the Day
.
He was active in the Campaign for Nuclear Disarmament
from its beginnings, and was president of the Fellowship of Reconciliation
in England for many years until his death. For twenty years he wrote regularly for the socialist magazine Tribune
, and 1958 was elected as an alderman (Labour) of the London County Council
. After the abolition of the LCC, he became an alderman on the Greater London Council
(1964–5) and accepted the offer of a life peer
age from the Labour government of the day, and so became Baron Soper, of Kingsway
in the London Borough of Camden
the first Methodist minister to sit in the House of Lords
, an organisation he opposed (he referred to it as "proof of the reality of life after death") but which he was able to use as a platform for the expression of his views.
In 1959, when Soper was preaching in Ballymena
, Northern Ireland
, Ian Paisley
threw a bible at Soper's head because Soper had questioned the literal truth of the bible. http://republican-news.org/archive/2001/April05/05ianp.html
In his last years, Soper was crippled by arthritis
and had to use a wheelchair, but he did not allow this to stop him preaching and making public appearances.
From 2005, his old school, now called Haberdashers' Aske's Hatcham College
has a house dedicated to him – the only one to not be named after a headmaster or headmistress.
Minister of religion
In Christian churches, a minister is someone who is authorized by a church or religious organization to perform functions such as teaching of beliefs; leading services such as weddings, baptisms or funerals; or otherwise providing spiritual guidance to the community...
, socialist and pacifist.
Soper was born at 36 Knoll Road, Wandsworth
Wandsworth
Wandsworth is a district of south London, England, in the London Borough of Wandsworth. It is situated southwest of Charing Cross. The area is identified in the London Plan as one of 35 major centres in Greater London.-Toponymy:...
, London
London
London is the capital city of :England and the :United Kingdom, the largest metropolitan area in the United Kingdom, and the largest urban zone in the European Union by most measures. Located on the River Thames, London has been a major settlement for two millennia, its history going back to its...
, the first son and first child of the three children of Ernest Frankham Soper (1871–1962), an average adjuster in marine insurance, the son of a tailor, and his wife, Caroline Amelia, née
NEE
NEE is a political protest group whose goal was to provide an alternative for voters who are unhappy with all political parties at hand in Belgium, where voting is compulsory.The NEE party was founded in 2005 in Antwerp...
Pilcher (b. 1877), a headmistress and daughter of a builder.
He was educated at Aske's School
Haberdashers' Aske's Hatcham College
Haberdashers' Aske's Hatcham College is an Academy secondary school located. in New Cross. The school was formerly a Grammar school, then a comprehensive City Technology College and now an Academy operating between two sites near New Cross Gate in South-East London...
in south London
London
London is the capital city of :England and the :United Kingdom, the largest metropolitan area in the United Kingdom, and the largest urban zone in the European Union by most measures. Located on the River Thames, London has been a major settlement for two millennia, its history going back to its...
, at St. Catharine's College
St Catharine's College, Cambridge
St. Catharine’s College is a constituent college of the University of Cambridge. Founded in 1473, the college is often referred to informally by the nickname "Catz".-History:...
and Wesley House
Wesley House
Wesley House is a Methodist theological college on Jesus Lane in Cambridge, England. It was founded in 1921 as a base for training Methodist ministers within the precincts of the University of Cambridge...
in the University of Cambridge
University of Cambridge
The University of Cambridge is a public research university located in Cambridge, United Kingdom. It is the second-oldest university in both the United Kingdom and the English-speaking world , and the seventh-oldest globally...
, and at the London School of Economics
London School of Economics
The London School of Economics and Political Science is a public research university specialised in the social sciences located in London, United Kingdom, and a constituent college of the federal University of London...
, where he took his PhD
PHD
PHD may refer to:*Ph.D., a doctorate of philosophy*Ph.D. , a 1980s British group*PHD finger, a protein sequence*PHD Mountain Software, an outdoor clothing and equipment company*PhD Docbook renderer, an XML renderer...
. He was an exceptional sportsman who captained his school at football, cricket
Cricket
Cricket is a bat-and-ball game played between two teams of 11 players on an oval-shaped field, at the centre of which is a rectangular 22-yard long pitch. One team bats, trying to score as many runs as possible while the other team bowls and fields, trying to dismiss the batsmen and thus limit the...
, and boxing
Boxing
Boxing, also called pugilism, is a combat sport in which two people fight each other using their fists. Boxing is supervised by a referee over a series of between one to three minute intervals called rounds...
, but he withdrew from cricket after he accidentally killed an opposing batsman with a fast delivery when bowling.
Soper offered as a candidate for the Methodist ministry, and while still a probationary minister (in his first appointment), he sought larger congregations by taking to open air preaching in imitation of the founders of Methodism. From 1926 until well into his nineties, he preached at London's centres for free speech, Tower Hill
Tower Hill
Tower Hill is an elevated spot northwest of the Tower of London, just outside the limits of the City of London, in the London Borough of Tower Hamlets. Formerly it was part of the Tower Liberty under the direct administrative control of Tower...
and (from 1942) Speakers' Corner
Speakers' Corner
A Speakers' Corner is an area where open-air public speaking, debate and discussion are allowed. The original and most noted is in the north-east corner of Hyde Park in London, United Kingdom. Speakers there may speak on any subject, as long as the police consider their speeches lawful, although...
in Hyde Park
Hyde Park, London
Hyde Park is one of the largest parks in central London, United Kingdom, and one of the Royal Parks of London, famous for its Speakers' Corner.The park is divided in two by the Serpentine...
; he was often referred to as "Dr Soapbox" in honour of the outdoor preacher's chief piece of apparatus. He was controversial and quick-thinking, and drew large crowds.
Early in his ministry, Soper was radicalised by the inner-city poverty that he witnessed. He became an active member of the Labour Party
Labour Party (UK)
The Labour Party is a centre-left democratic socialist party in the United Kingdom. It surpassed the Liberal Party in general elections during the early 1920s, forming minority governments under Ramsay MacDonald in 1924 and 1929-1931. The party was in a wartime coalition from 1940 to 1945, after...
and much of his preaching was concerned with the political implications of the Christian gospel; late in life, he offended many conservatives by his fiercely expressed argument that the policies of Margaret Thatcher
Margaret Thatcher
Margaret Hilda Thatcher, Baroness Thatcher, was Prime Minister of the United Kingdom from 1979 to 1990...
were inherently incompatible with Christianity
Christianity
Christianity is a monotheistic religion based on the life and teachings of Jesus as presented in canonical gospels and other New Testament writings...
. From 1936 until his retirement in 1978, he was the minister of Kingsway Hall
Kingsway Hall
The Kingsway Hall, Holborn, London, built in 1912, was the home of the West London Mission of the Methodist Church, and eventually became one of the most important recording venues for classical music and film music...
, a "Central hall" within the Methodist church and the home of the West London Methodist Mission
West London Methodist Mission
The West London Methodist Mission was established in 1887 under the leadership of Hugh Price Hughes, a leading voice in Methodism and in Non-Conformity, and has a long track record as a Methodist ministry and as a spiritual home for "good works". Its early days are very much associated with its...
http://www.wlm.org.uk/wlm_hist.htm which exercised a ministry of practical care for marginalised groups such as the homeless, unmarried mothers and alcoholics. He served as President of the Methodist Conference in 1953–54.
Soper took up many radical causes. As well as being a socialist, he was a teetotaler, a vigorous opponent of blood sports (he was President of the League Against Cruel Sports
League Against Cruel Sports
The League Against Cruel Sports are an animal welfare organisation that campaigns against all blood sports including bull fighting, fox hunting and hare coursing. It also campaigns to ban the manufacture, sale and use of snares, for the regulation of greyhound racing and for an end to commercial...
from 1967 to 1997) and gambling
Gambling
Gambling is the wagering of money or something of material value on an event with an uncertain outcome with the primary intent of winning additional money and/or material goods...
(he criticised the British Royal Family's
British Royal Family
The British Royal Family is the group of close relatives of the monarch of the United Kingdom. The term is also commonly applied to the same group of people as the relations of the monarch in her or his role as sovereign of any of the other Commonwealth realms, thus sometimes at variance with...
association with horse racing
Horse racing
Horse racing is an equestrian sport that has a long history. Archaeological records indicate that horse racing occurred in ancient Babylon, Syria, and Egypt. Both chariot and mounted horse racing were events in the ancient Greek Olympics by 648 BC...
), and most notably, a pacifist. He joined the Peace Pledge Union
Peace Pledge Union
The Peace Pledge Union is a British pacifist non-governmental organization. It is open to everyone who can sign the PPU pledge: "I renounce war, and am therefore determined not to support any kind of war...
in 1937 and preached pacifism throughout the Second World War, being deemed so effective that he was banned from broadcasting on the BBC
BBC
The British Broadcasting Corporation is a British public service broadcaster. Its headquarters is at Broadcasting House in the City of Westminster, London. It is the largest broadcaster in the world, with about 23,000 staff...
. After the War he became a regular broadcaster on BBC's Thought for the Day
Thought for the Day
Thought for the Day is a daily scripted slot on the Today programme on BBC Radio 4 offering "reflections from a faith perspective on issues and people in the news", broadcast at around 7.45 each Monday to Saturday morning...
.
He was active in the Campaign for Nuclear Disarmament
Campaign for Nuclear Disarmament
The Campaign for Nuclear Disarmament is an anti-nuclear organisation that advocates unilateral nuclear disarmament by the United Kingdom, international nuclear disarmament and tighter international arms regulation through agreements such as the Nuclear Non-Proliferation Treaty...
from its beginnings, and was president of the Fellowship of Reconciliation
Fellowship of Reconciliation
The Fellowship of Reconciliation is the name used by a number of religious nonviolent organizations, particularly in English-speaking countries...
in England for many years until his death. For twenty years he wrote regularly for the socialist magazine Tribune
Tribune (magazine)
Tribune is a democratic socialist weekly, founded in 1937 published in London. It is independent but supports the Labour Party from the left...
, and 1958 was elected as an alderman (Labour) of the London County Council
London County Council
London County Council was the principal local government body for the County of London, throughout its 1889–1965 existence, and the first London-wide general municipal authority to be directly elected. It covered the area today known as Inner London and was replaced by the Greater London Council...
. After the abolition of the LCC, he became an alderman on the Greater London Council
Greater London Council
The Greater London Council was the top-tier local government administrative body for Greater London from 1965 to 1986. It replaced the earlier London County Council which had covered a much smaller area...
(1964–5) and accepted the offer of a life peer
Life peer
In the United Kingdom, life peers are appointed members of the Peerage whose titles cannot be inherited. Nowadays life peerages, always of baronial rank, are created under the Life Peerages Act 1958 and entitle the holders to seats in the House of Lords, presuming they meet qualifications such as...
age from the Labour government of the day, and so became Baron Soper, of Kingsway
Kingsway (London)
Kingsway is a major road in central London in the United Kingdom, designated as part of the A4200. It runs from High Holborn, at its north end in the London Borough of Camden, and meets Aldwych in the south in the City of Westminster at Bush House. It was built in the 1900s...
in the London Borough of Camden
London Borough of Camden
In 1801, the civil parishes that form the modern borough were already developed and had a total population of 96,795. This continued to rise swiftly throughout the 19th century, as the district became built up; reaching 270,197 in the middle of the century...
the first Methodist minister to sit in the House of Lords
House of Lords
The House of Lords is the upper house of the Parliament of the United Kingdom. Like the House of Commons, it meets in the Palace of Westminster....
, an organisation he opposed (he referred to it as "proof of the reality of life after death") but which he was able to use as a platform for the expression of his views.
In 1959, when Soper was preaching in Ballymena
Ballymena
Ballymena is a large town in County Antrim, Northern Ireland and the seat of Ballymena Borough Council. Ballymena had a population of 28,717 people in the 2001 Census....
, Northern Ireland
Northern Ireland
Northern Ireland is one of the four countries of the United Kingdom. Situated in the north-east of the island of Ireland, it shares a border with the Republic of Ireland to the south and west...
, Ian Paisley
Ian Paisley
Ian Richard Kyle Paisley, Baron Bannside, PC is a politician and church minister in Northern Ireland. As the leader of the Democratic Unionist Party , he and Sinn Féin's Martin McGuinness were elected First Minister and deputy First Minister respectively on 8 May 2007.In addition to co-founding...
threw a bible at Soper's head because Soper had questioned the literal truth of the bible. http://republican-news.org/archive/2001/April05/05ianp.html
In his last years, Soper was crippled by arthritis
Arthritis
Arthritis is a form of joint disorder that involves inflammation of one or more joints....
and had to use a wheelchair, but he did not allow this to stop him preaching and making public appearances.
From 2005, his old school, now called Haberdashers' Aske's Hatcham College
Haberdashers' Aske's Hatcham College
Haberdashers' Aske's Hatcham College is an Academy secondary school located. in New Cross. The school was formerly a Grammar school, then a comprehensive City Technology College and now an Academy operating between two sites near New Cross Gate in South-East London...
has a house dedicated to him – the only one to not be named after a headmaster or headmistress.
Further reading
- Alan Brooks, West End Methodism: The Story of Hinde Street. London: Northway Publications, 2010.