John Norman Davidson Kelly

John Norman Davidson Kelly FBA (1909–1997) was a prominent academic within the theological faculty of Oxford University and Principal of St Edmund Hall, Oxford between 1951 and 1979 during which the Hall transformed into an independent constituent college of the University and later a co-educational establishment.

John Kelly was born in Bridge of Allan, Perthshire on 13 April 1909 and was the fourth of five children to his Scottish schoolmaster father and English mother. John was home-schooled by his father and graduated initially at the University of Glasgow after which he went up to Queen's College, Oxford having secured a scholarship. At Queen's he read classical moderations, Greats, and theology and graduated with first-class honours. Despite an upbringing as a Presbyterian he was confirmed into the Church of England and entered the ministry, attending St Stephen's House, Oxford before being made deacon in Northamptonshire.

Before completing his diaconal year he was invited to return to Oxford as chaplain and tutor in theology and philosophy at St Edmund Hall by the then principal, A.B. Emden beginning a sixty-two-year association with the Hall. He was ordained priest in 1935. In 1937, Kelly was made Vice-Principal. During World War II, he wished to become a military chaplain but Emden would not release him, and he instead undertook linguistic work for the Foreign Office. Emden was forced to retire in 1951 because of illness and Kelly became Principal, a position he held until 1979.

Kelly became Principal of the Hall at an important phase of its 700-year history, namely its independence from Queen's College, of which it had been part since 1557. The process, started by Emden in 1937, was brought to fruition in 1958 when Kelly secured the co-operation of Queen's and obtained for the Hall a Charter of Incorporation, presented by the Duke of Edinburgh.

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