Daniel Thambyrajah Niles

Daniel Thambyrajah Niles (1908–1970) was a Sri Lankan Methodist minister, evangelist, theologian, ecumenical leader, writer, and hymn poet. Born in Jaffna, Ceylon, on May 4, 1908, into a family with Congregational and Methodist ministry connections, he studied theology at the institution now known as United Theological College in Bangalore and was ordained to the Methodist ministry in 1936. His early work included leadership in the Student Christian Movement and participation in the 1938 International Missionary Council meeting at Tambaram.

Niles became one of the most visible Asian Christian leaders of the mid-twentieth century. He preached at the opening service of the World Council of Churches' first assembly in Amsterdam in 1948 and later served the WCC as chairman of its Youth Department, executive secretary for evangelism, and one of its presidents. He also led the Methodist Church of Ceylon, the National Christian Council of Ceylon, the World's Student Christian Federation, and the East Asia Christian Conference, which he helped establish.

As a preacher and author, Niles wrote extensively on evangelism, Scripture, mission, and Christian witness. He also contributed hymn texts to the East Asian Christian Hymnal, seeking forms of Christian song that could speak naturally within Asian cultures. Research at Silliman University has shown that several English texts long described as translations of Elena G. Maquiso's hymns were actually new texts supplied by Niles for her melodies, including the text associated with HALAD. He died on July 17, 1970, in Vellore, India.