COLUMN: Farewell the good and faithful servant who was used by God to turn my agnosticism to faith
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Food for Thought by Rev Sandy Sutherland
Rev Alasdair J. MacLennan (1937-2023) was the Clyne Church of Scotland minister in Brora (1979-1987) and at Resolis & Urquhart in the Black Isle (1994-2001). Between these dates he was called by the denomination itself to take up the role of organiser for evangelism covering the Highlands and Islands.
Initially, Alasdair was reluctant to leave Brora, but when the Church re-approached him he agreed to take up this challenging role, which involved engaging with presbyteries, kirk sessions and congregations on the need for the Great Commission.
Elders’ training sessions also came under his remit, to say nothing about preparing and delivering papers at conference centres such as St Ninian’s in Crieff.
I came to know Alasdair early in his ministry in Brora and, under God, he was used to turn my agnosticism into faith in Christ. Thereby, I regarded him as my father in the faith.
Alasdair’s teaching and collected works (Barriers to Belief; Pearls from the Psalms and Unusual Judges; and Developing The Missionary Parish – of which he was co-author) showed him to not only be missionary and theologically minded but also pragmatic and devotional.
Born in Inverness, Alasdair went on to further education at Glasgow’s Jordonhill College after which he took up the role of organiser of youth in Ross-shire and later in the City of Aberdeen. When he felt called to the ministry he studied for a BD at Aberdeen University and in the ministry itself he was ably assisted by his wife Betty whom he met while she was matron of the MacKay Hostel for boys in Dingwall.
Alasdair visited the hostel as part of his youth work programme. Betty (nee MacKenzie) originally came from Helmsdale. Providentially, Alasdair became interim minister for Helmsdale (Kildonan and Loth) prior to the ministry of Rev. John Rushton.
Alasdair believed in evangelism as an imperative to the survival (humanly speaking) of the Church. In the light of this, Brora witnessed an extraordinary event in Highland Church history when both the Free Church of Scotland and the Church of Scotland undertook a joint outreach to the village in 1983, 140 years after the Disruption of 1843!
Alasdair’s winsome personality and ability to make the gospel relevant in all situations saw him conduct special church services for different societies including Clan Sutherland and Clan Gunn.
However, his continual commitment was to the Queen’s Own Cameron Highlanders where he was an honorary chaplain.
Retired Lieutenant Colonel Angus Fairrie even recalls Alasdair sitting exams for the Royal Army Chaplaincy as far back as Alasdair’s years of National Service (1957-1959). Alasdair was always focused!
At his own request, I had the privilege of giving the eulogy at his well-attended funeral service in Urray West Church (by Muir of Ord) earlier this year.
As Alasdair always enjoyed working with young people, I ended the eulogy unorthodoxly with part of a children’s address. This address focused on what I considered to be Alasdair’s favourite verse in the bible, John 3: 16.
I quoted the verse but said certain words twice, asking everyone to take the first letter of each repeated word to make a new word: “For God (God) so loved the world that He gave His one and only (only) Son (Son) that whoever believes in Him shall not perish (perish) but have eternal (eternal) life (life)”.
This “Gospel” was Alasdair’s passion and he has now heard the words of his Lord: “Well done good and faithful servant, enter into the joy of the Lord.”
n Rev Sandy Sutherland is a retired Free Church minister living in Brora.
