Born in Dublin in 1858, he was educated at Blackrock College, Dublin and in France where he was ordained a priest in the Missions’ Seminary, Chapel, Chevilly, in 1885.[1] He worked at Blackrock College until 1903.
In 1913, Neville was ordained Titular Bishop of Carrhae in Blackrock College's chapel, the first such ordination in the college.[2]
Bishop Neville was also appointed Apostolic Vicar of Zanzibar, (then administered from Kenya), from 1913 until 1931 when aged 72 he resigned but remained Apostolic administrator until 1943 when he died. He was succeeded in 1932 as Vicar Apostolic by another Irishman, John William Heffernan.
Neville was also a trained doctor, and the Bishop John Neville, C.S.Sp. Medical Dispensary in Mbokombu, Mosbi, Tanzania is named in his honour.[3]