Frederick B. Rea (known as Fred) was born in Dublin on 31 May1908 and studied at Trinity College where he obtained BA and BD degrees. He was later awarded an honorary D. Lit. in Southern Rhodesia (now Zimbabwe).

He was trained for the Irish ministry at Edgehill Theological College, Belfast. His service 1934-7 as travelling Secretary of the Student Christian Movement inIreland, prompted him to call for a radical re-appraisal of Irish Christianity more reflective of enlightened Protestant and Roman Catholic relationships and attitudes. Aware of what was known as the 'fulfilment' approach to other faiths, he noted that missionaries often welcomed what was good in other religions without compromise to the gospel. The challenge in Ireland, he suggested, was to seek to win others through 'patient service rather than by acrimonious controversy', and to be prepared to 'de-Anglicise the Gospel.'

After his marriage to Kathleen (Kay) Lawson, B.Sc. (born 3 May 1914; died 24 June 1997), a teacher in Methodist College, Belfast, he offered for overseas service and they were appointed to Southern Rhodesia (now Zimbabwe) from 1937, their base until Fred's retirement and death in 1984. Kay continued to live there until her own death. Ministering in several churches, Rea also taught in centres of learning, most notably in Epworth Theological College, where training was provided for ministers. During the Second World War he served as a chaplain to the Rhodesian Forces, including periods in Italy and Egypt. He introduced lectures on world faiths, sought to promote cultural pluralism and encouraged forums in which soldiers engaged with one another in discussion. Front-line action in the Italy campaign proved harrowing, and contributed to his receiving an MBE (Military Division). He was involved in promoting Alcoholics Anonymous. His wife encouraged the growth of the Girl Guide movement and engaged in educational initiatives. She wrote and illustrated a book about their shared life, The Best is yet to Be – Fifty years in Zimbabwe, 1992.

Deeply committed to the quest for racial and social equality in Southern Rhodesia, Rea read a paper at a national convention in 1960, 'The Impact of Habit and Custom on Community Relations', expressing fear lest the ' continental upsurge' of African nationalism would assume divisive and destructive forms. He argued that much of the solution to inter-racial problems lay outside the sphere of legislation. In 'the struggle for a new era in race relations', for example, he held that good intentions and reason had to be 'under-girded by 'dynamic forces' such as 'sound religion' and 'national loyalty'. Later, he declared his opposition to some of the policies involved in the implementation of the Programme to Combat Racism (PCR) of the World Council of Churches, especially its decision, endorsed by the MMS, to help finance the humanitarian programmes of militant groups pressing for an end to white-dominated rule and the introduction of black majority rule. In his eyes, the PCR encouraged those seeking their freedom to do so by violent means. Inevitably such interventions led to tensions between the MMS and Southern Rhodesia, and involved political and religious figures in Britain and Ireland. Other Irish Methodist missionaries in Africa at times publicly opposed aspects of Rea's stance on these and other matters.

Entry written by: NWT
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