Charles Steel Wallis (1874–1959) was a British Church of England priest, British Army

chaplain A chaplain is, traditionally, a cleric (such as a Minister (Christianity), minister, priest, pastor, rabbi, purohit, or imam), or a laity, lay representative of a religious tradition, attached to a secularity, secular institution (such as a hosp ...

, and academic. From 1902 to 1912, he was a tutor then Vice-Principal of the London College of Divinity. He was a

military chaplain A military chaplain ministers to military personnel and, in most cases, their families and civilians working for the military. In some cases they will also work with local civilians within a military area of operations. Although the term '' ch ...

during World War I. From 1919 to 1945, he was Principal of St John's College, Durham, and a

lecturer Lecturer is an List of academic ranks, academic rank within many universities, though the meaning of the term varies somewhat from country to country. It generally denotes an academic expert who is hired to teach on a full- or part-time basis. T ...

in ecclesiastical history and in logic at

Durham University , mottoeng = Her foundations are upon the holy hills (Psalm 87:1) , established = (university status) , type = Public , academic_staff = 1,830 (2020) , administrative_staff = 2,640 (2018/19) , chancellor = Sir Thomas Allen , vice_chan ...

Early life

Wallis was born in 1874 to William Wallis, a solicitor. He was educated at Hatton House School, Newark-on-Trent, Nottinghamshire.

Career

Following school, Wallis studied at the London College of Divinity and completed the universities preliminary theological examination (the exam for none-degree ordinands) in 1902. He was then ordained in the Church of England. He continued his studies at

, graduating with a Bachelor of Arts (BA) degree in 1906 and a Master of Arts (MA) degree in 1909. Having been ordained, he joined the staff of the London College of Divinity in 1902. In 1903, he was appointed a college tutor. He served as dean from 1904 to 1912. In 1912, he left to join St John's College, Durham as vice-principal and

. He took a break from St John's between 1915 and the end of World War I to serve as a

. Following his return from war in 1919, he took over as principal of St John's College. During his time leading the college, he extended its size, acquired further buildings and increased its finances. In 1930, he was additionally appointed

rector Rector (Latin for the member of a vessel's crew who steers) may refer to: Style or title *Rector (ecclesiastical), a cleric who functions as an administrative leader in some Christian denominations *Rector (academia), a senior official in an edu ...

of St Mary-le-Bow, Durham (now a redundant church housing

Durham Museum and Heritage Centre Durham Museum and Heritage Centre is a museum in Durham, England, Durham, England. It details the history of the City of Durham from medieval times to the present day. The museum is located in the redundant church of St Mary-le-Bow, close to the ...

). At various times, he was a

in ecclesiastical history and in logic at

, sub-warden of the

colleges A college (Latin: ''collegium'') is an educational institution or a constituent part of one. A college may be a degree-awarding tertiary educational institution, a part of a collegiate or federal university, an institution offerin ...

, and a member of the Durham University Council. He retired in 1945 and died on 6 June 1959.

Military service

Wallis became a

in 1915 and served with the

Mediterranean Expeditionary Force The Mediterranean Expeditionary Force (MEF) was the part of the British Army during World War I that commanded all Allied forces at Gallipoli and Salonika. It was formed in March 1915, under the command of General Sir Ian Hamilton, at the beginn ...

during World War I. On 7 May 1915, he was appointed a temporary Chaplain of the Forces 4th Class (equivalent to the rank of

captain Captain is a title, an appellative for the commanding officer of a military unit; the supreme leader of a navy ship, merchant ship, aeroplane, spacecraft, or other vessel; or the commander of a port, fire or police department, election precinct, e ...

) in the Army Chaplains Department, British Army. In July 1915, he sailed for the Dardanelles and the Gallipoli Campaign. His duties on the transport ship included taking services, keeping up the spirits of the men and censoring the troops letters home. Ashore, he duties included basic first aid (undressing troops and washing wounds), giving last rites and holding funerals. He would also accompany hospital ships taking the wounded from the battlefield to hospitals in Egypt or Malta; he continued his basic first aid duties, services, funerals and additionally acted as letter writer for the wounded.

Selected works

References

{{DEFAULTSORT:Wallis, Charles Steel 1874 births 1959 deaths 20th-century English Anglican priests Academics of Durham University Royal Army Chaplains' Department officers World War I chaplains Alumni of the London College of Divinity Principals of St John's College, Durham British Army personnel of World War I Alumni of Durham University