Robert McGhee (minister)
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 The Revd Dr Robert McGhee, St. Andrew's Manse. |
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| Born: | July 29, 1929 Port Glasgow, Scotland |
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| Died: | March 18, 1996 Stirlingshire, Scotland |
| Occupation: | Church of Scotland Minister and Evangelist |
The Revd Dr Robert McGhee, Esq, DD, was a prominent Church of Scotland minister and evangelist who championed the conservative, evangelical movement within the Church, born in Port Glasgow, Scotland, on 29 July 1929, the first son of Robert McGhee and Catherine Ferguson.
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[edit] Background and education
Originally trained as an accountant before serving two years in the Royal Air Force, McGhee attended Glasgow University to study Divinity in 1954, becoming proficient in Latin, Hebrew, and particularly Greek.
[edit] Career
He was ordained in Port Glasgow and inducted to Pultneytown St. Andrew’s Church in Wick, Caithness in 1959. After a successful merge with another local church he was minister of Wick St. Andrew’s and Thrumster Church from 1961-66. It was at this time that his ‘strong personality and vigorous evangelistic heart soon made its mark on the growing congregation’, according to Bill Wallace. He became a good friend of Lady Jessamine Harmsworth, the church organist and a cousin of the Queen Mother, and often returned to Wick on holiday later in his life.
From 1966-72 he was Minister of Newbattle Church in Dalkeith outside Edinburgh, before moving finally to Falkirk, as Minister of St. Andrew's West Parish Church. During his time in Falkirk he was appointed President of the Scottish Evangelistic Council (1982-85), Convener of Community Care, Social Responsibility (1977-85) and then Convener of the Board of Social Responsibility of the Church of Scotland (1985-89). As Convener he visited Kenya as part of the International Christian Federation Conference for the Prevention of Alcoholism and Drug Addiction, and also toured the Holy Land. He also served as Chairman of the Lord’s Day Observance Society of Scotland (1970-74) and Moderator of the Presbyteries of Caithness (1964-65), Falkirk (1983-83) and the Synod of Forth (1985-86). In 1991 he was appointed Chairman of the Glasgow Council for Billy Graham’s Scottish crusade.
Dr. McGhee made various television and radio appearances, and spoke at numerous General Assemblies, taking a conservative, evangelical stance on theological issues. He was also on the Editorial Board for CH4 (the fourth Edition of the Church Hymnary). He was awarded an honorary Doctorate of Divinity by the University of Trinity College, Toronto. In 1987 he was one of a small number of Scots to be invited to celebrate the 400th anniversary of the revival of the Order of the Thistle. He was also put forward for the position of Moderator.
Dr. McGhee died on 18 March 1996 in Strathcarron Hospice, Stirlingshire, of cancer. At his funeral the church was overflowing with over 1500 mourners, and he was buried in Falkirk Cemetery. His family donated hundreds of theological books which were part of his private collection to the University of Glasgow. A stained glass window of St. John was erected in his memory in St. Andrew’s West Church, and a new residential street built in 2005 in central Falkirk, McGhee Place, was named after him.
[edit] Family
Dr. McGhee married Mary Stevenson Cunningham in Port Glasgow, by whom he had three children, all born in Wick. He later had nine grandchildren.
[edit] Reference
- "Who's Who in Scotland" (1994 edition), Carrick Media, Ayr
- "Christian Irishman" magazine, April 1996 edition
