Henry Macnicol (b. 1914) was a Scottish author, playwright, and full-time worker with the Moral Re-Armament (MRA) movement.
Born in Leven, Fife, Macnicol was the son of a general practitioner who served a community of miners, an environment that influenced his later dedication to working-class issues. He graduated with first-class honours in English from the University of Edinburgh. His early career included roles as a social worker and probation officer in the slums of Stockbridge, Edinburgh, where he engaged directly with urban poverty and social challenges.
Macnicol's involvement with MRA began in East London, where he connected with figures like Tod Sloane, a veteran of the Labour movement and associate of Keir Hardie. These relationships, along with his experiences among Scottish industrial workers, inspired his play Keir Hardie – The Man They Could Not Buy, which highlighted the integrity and resilience of the Labour Party's founder.
Within MRA, Macnicol was recognized as a strategist, particularly in Rhodesia (now Zimbabwe), where he played a significant role in the movement's activities. His work often focused on bridging divides between labour and management, and he was actively involved in MRA's cultural initiatives, including theatre and film productions aimed at promoting moral and social renewal.
