Collins, (Lewis) John (1905-1982)

English Christian social reformer, peace campaigner, and cleric. He joined the Labour Party in 1938 and formed Christian Action in 1946. Following his appointment as a canon of St Paul's Cathedral in 1948, he became a national figure campaigning for social reform, justice, and peace. He was a founding sponsor of the Campaign for Nuclear Disarmament (CND) in 1958 and served as its first chair 1958-60 in an uneasy relationship with its president, Bertrand Russell.

He was also active in campaigning against South African apartheid, being awarded a gold medal in 1978 by the United Nations Committee against Apartheid. His autobiography, Faith Under Fire, was published in 1966. Collins remained at St Paul's until 1981.

He was educated at Cambridge, ordained at Canterbury Cathedral in 1928, and taught theology at King's College, London.