John Philip Newell

John Philip Newell (born 4 May 1953) is a Canadian teacher and author of spirituality based in Edinburgh. In 2011, he was honored with the first-ever Contemplative Voices Award by the Shalem Institute in Washington, D.C..
Early life and education
Newell was born 4 May 1953 in Chatham, Ontario, Canada, the third of four children. His mother, Pearl Newell née Ferguson, of Scottish descent, was born and lives in Canada. His father, the Rev Dr William James Newell (1922-2011), Irish by birth, became a pastor of the Christian and Missionary Alliance and the Director of World Vision Canada. Following Newell’s early education in Canadian public schooling, he received a Bachelor of Arts degree in English literature from McMaster University in 1975, a Bachelor of Divinity in theology from the University of Edinburgh in 1978, and a PhD in ecclesiastical history from the University of Edinburgh in 1981.
Career
Ordained as a Church of Scotland minister in 1981, Newell served as Ecumenical Chaplain at McMaster University (1982-1988), Warden of Iona Abbey in Scotland (1989-1992), Assistant Minister at in Edinburgh (1992-95), Warden of Spirituality for the Anglican Diocese of Portsmouth in the Church of England (1995-2000), and Scholar in Spirituality at St Giles Cathedral (2000-02). In 2002 he transitioned into full-time writing and itinerant teaching in cathedrals, universities and retreat centres on both sides of the Atlantic.
In 2010 a non-profit organisation, Heartbeat (A Sacred Journey Towards Earth’s Wellbeing), was created to come alongside Newell’s vision and work.<ref name="ncr" /> In 2020 the organisation restructured itself under the new name Earth and Soul (A Celtic Initiative of Study, Spiritual Practice, and Compassionate Action).
Newell’s work now focuses almost entirely on writing and the development of the School of Earth and Soul as well as international pilgrimages to Iona. He speaks of himself as ‘a wandering teacher’ following the ancient path of many lone teachers before him in the Celtic world, ‘wandering Scots’ (or Scotus Vagans, as they were called) seeking the wellbeing of the world. He has been described as having ‘the heart of a Celtic bard and the mind of a Celtic scholar’, combining in his teachings the poetic and the intellectual, the head as well as the heart, and spiritual awareness as well as political and ecological concern. His writings have been translated into seven languages. In 2020 he relinquished his ordination with the Church of Scotland as no longer reflecting the heart of his belief in the sacredness of the earth and every human being. He continues, however, to see himself as ‘a son of the Christian household’ seeking to be in relationship with the wisdom of humanity’s other great spiritual traditions.
Personal life
In 1978, he married Alison Newell née Cant of the Orkney Islands. They have four children, Rowan, Brendan, Kirsten and Cameron, all of whom reside in Scotland.
Published works
Spirituality
Sacred Earth Sacred Soul: Celtic Wisdom for Reawakening to What Our Souls Know and Healing the World (Harper One, San Francisco, 2021)
The Rebirthing of God: Christianity’s Struggle for New Beginnings (Skylight Paths, Burlington, 2014)
A New Harmony: the Spirt, the Earth, & the Human Soul (Jossey-Bass, San Francisco, 2011) also published in the UK (St Andrews Press, 2012). Republished as A New Ancient Harmony: A Celtic Vision for the Journey into Wholeness (New Beginnings, A Material Media Imprint, San Antonio, 2019)
Christ of the Celts: The Healing of Creation (Jossey-Bass, San Francisco, 2008) also published in the UK (Wild Goose Publications, 2009) and Korea (The Christian Literature Society of Korea, 2013)

Shakespeare and the Human Mystery (Paulist Press, Mahwah NJ, 2003) also published in the UK (SPCK, 2003) and Australia (St Pauls Publications, 2003)
Echo of the Soul: The Sacredness of the Human Body (Morehouse, Harrisburg, 2000) also published in the UK (SCM-Canterbury, 2000)
The Book of Creation: The Practice of Celtic Spirituality (Paulist Press, Mahwah, 1999) also published in the UK (SCM-Canterbury, 1999)
Promptings from Paradise (Paulist Press, Mahwah, 1998) also published in the UK (SPCK, 1998) and the Netherlands (Meinema,1999)
One Foot in Eden (Paulist Press, Mahwah, 1998) also published in the UK (SPCK, 1998), the Netherlands (Meinema, 1999) and Germany (Herder, 2004)
Listening for the Heartbeat of God: A Celtic Spirituality (Paulist Press, Mahwah, 1997) also published in the UK (SPCK, 1997) and Korea (The Christian Literature Society of Korea, 2001)
Prayer and Meditation
Great Creating Spirit: A Celtic Earth Mass (New Beginnings, A Material Media Imprint, San Antonio, 2015)
Praying with the Earth: A Prayerbook for Peace (Eerdmans, Grand Rapids, 2011) also published in the UK (SCM-Canterbury, 2011) and Germany (Herder, 2014)
Ground of All Being: The Prayer of Jesus (New Beginnings, A Material Media Imprint, San Antonio, 2008)
Celtic Treasure: Daily Scripture & Prayer (Eerdmans, Grand Rapids, 2005) also published in the UK (SCM-Canterbury, 2005) and the Netherlands (Uitgeverij Kok, 2007)
Sounds of the Eternal: A Celtic Psalter (Eerdmans, Grand Rapids, 2002) also published in the UK (SCM-Canterbury 2002) and a Spanish translation Sonidos de lo Eterno (New Beginnings, A Material Media Imprint, San Antonio, 2009)
Celtic Benediction: Morning & Night Prayer (Eerdmans, Grand Rapids, 2000) also published in the UK (SCM-Canterbury 2000)
An Earthful of Glory: Prayers, Liturgies, Meditations (SPCK, London, 1996)
Celtic Prayers from Iona (Paulist Press, Mahwah, 1997) also published in the UK (Wild Goose, 1994), Germany (Alektor, 2003), Finland (Verbum, 2004), Sweden (Verbum, 2005) and Switzerland (Labor et Fides, 2010)
The Iona Community Worship Book, Editor (Wild Goose Publications, Scotland, 1991)
Audiobooks and CDs
A New Harmony: the Spirt, the Earth, & the Human Soul (Audible.Co.UK, 2012).
Chanting for Peace: Meditative Chants and Prayers (New Beginnings, A Material Media Imprint, San Antonio, 2011)
Christ of the Celts: Audiobook (New Beginnings, A Material Media Imprint, San Antonio, 2008)
A Celtic Mass for Peace: Songs for the Earth Lyrics by John Philip Newell (Guarnaccia, Vermont, 2008)
Sounds of the Eternal: Meditative Chants and Prayers (New Beginnings, A Material Media Imprint, San Antonio, 2005)

Main Menu

See Also

Main Menu