Underhill, Evelyn, 1875-1941, Christian mystic

Person

Underhill, Evelyn, 1875-1941, Christian mystic

1875-1941

Born at Wolverhampton, 1875; educated at home, except for three years at a private school in Folkestone; read history and botany at King's College for Women, London; developed a knowledge of the art of France and Italy and travelled abroad each spring, 1898-1913; first work published, 1902; married (Hubert) Stuart Moore, a barrister, 1907; converted to Christianity, 1907; initially sympathetic to Roman Catholicism, but subsequently leant towards Anglicanism on intellectual grounds; after her conversion Underhill's life consisted of various religious work including writing, visiting the poor, and offering spiritual guidance, the latter increasing over time; published her first important book, Mysticism , 1911; honorary fellow of King's College for Women, 1913; became acquainted with the theologian Baron Friedrich Von Hugel to whom she was indebted spiritually; formally under his spiritual direction, 1921-1925; became a practising Anglican, 1921; Upton Lecturer on Religion, Manchester College Oxford, 1921-1922; began to conduct retreats, especially at Pleshey, Essex, 1924; several books were based on these; other publications included three novels, two books of verse, works on philosophy and religion, editions of and critical essays on the mystics John of Ruysbroeck and Walter Hilton, and reviews and articles for The Spectator , of which she was theological editor, and later for Time and Tide ; fellow of King's College London, 1927; in the 1930s became deeply interested in the Greek Orthodox Church and joined the Fellowship of St Alban and St Sergius; although employed in the naval intelligence (Africa) department at the Admiralty during World War One, her views changed and she was a Christian pacifist, 1939; joined the Anglican Pacifist Fellowship; honorary degree of Doctor of Divinity, University of Aberdeen, 1939; died at Hampstead, 1941. Cf The Letters of Evelyn Underhill , edited with an introduction by Charles Williams (1943). Cited in the Church of England Calendar from 1997. Publications include A Bar-Lamb's Ballad Book (1902), containing humorous verse concerned with the law; Mysticism (1911); Immanence. A book of verses [1913]; The Life of the Spirit and the Life of To-day (1922), based on her Upton lectures; Worship (1936), written for the Library of Constructive Theology; The spiritual life (1937); The Church and War (1940), written for the Anglican Pacifist Fellowship. Editor of or contributor to: The Miracles of Our Lady Saint Mary, brought out of divers tongues and newly set forth in English (1905); A Book of Contemplation the which is called the Cloud of Unknowing, in the which a soul is oned with God , edited from the British Museum MS Harleian 674, with an introduction by Underhill (1912); One Hundred Poems of Kabir , translated by Rabindranath Tagore, with an introduction by Underhill (1914); The Fire of Love or Melody of Love and the Mending of Life or Rule of Living , translated by Richard Misyn from the 'Incedium Amoris' and the 'De Emendatione Vitae', edited and done into modern English by Frances M M Comper, with an introduction by Underhill (1914); The Adornment of the Spiritual Marriage. The Sparkling Stone. The Book of Supreme Truth , translated from the Flemish by C A Wynschenk Dom, edited with an introduction and notes by Underhill (1916); Caroline Frances Eleanor Spurgeon, The Training of the Combatant: an address delivered for the Fight for Right Movement , with a note on the movement by Underhill (1916); The Confessions of Jacob Boehme , edited by W Scott Palmer, with an introduction by Underhill (1920); Walter Hylton, The Scale of Perfection , edited from MS sources with an introduction by Underhill (1923); Cardinal Nicolaus de Cusa Khrypffs, The Vision of God (De Visione Dei) , translated by Emma Gurney Salter, with an introduction by Underhill (1928); A Simple Method of Raising the Soul to Contemplation , translated by Lucy Menzies, with an introduction by Underhill (1931); Margaret Beatrice Cropper, Christ Crucified. A Passion play in six scenes , with an introductory note by Underhill (1932); Letters of direction. Thoughts on the spiritual life from the letters of the Abbe de Tourville , with an introduction by Underhill (1939); Eucharistic Prayers from the Ancient Liturgies , chosen and arranged by Underhill (1939). Published pseudonymously, as John Cordelier: The Path of the Eternal Wisdom. A mystical commentary on the Way of the Cross (1911); The Spiral Way. Being meditations upon the fifteen mysteries of the soul's ascent (1912). Some of her work has been reprinted and anthologised.

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Further information is available at the National Archives (F63982)