Sandy McDonald (minister)
| The Very Rev. Dr. Alexander McDonald | |
|---|---|
| Born |
5 November 1937 Bishopbriggs, Scotland |
| Nationality | British |
| Other names | Sandy |
| Occupation | Retired minister |
| Spouse(s) | Helen McDonald (?-15 July 2007) (her death) |
| Children |
Blair McDonald Karen McDonald David Tennant (born David John McDonald) |
Alexander "Sandy" McDonald (born 5 November 1937)[1] is a Scottish retired minister. He served as a minister of the Church of Scotland, and was the Moderator of the General Assembly of the Church of Scotland (1997-8).
Biography
McDonald was born in Bishopbriggs in 1937, the son of Jessie Helen Low and Alexander M. McDonald.[1] He worked in the timber industry in the 1950s, prior to National Service in the Royal Air Force. He studied at the University of Glasgow before training for the ministry at Trinity College.[2]
Following theological studies in the 1960s, his first position after completing his studies was in the rural Church of Scotland, in Longriggend, north Lanarkshire, he served as minister at St David's Parish Church, Bathgate (1968–1974), then at St Mark's Parish Church, Ralston (1974–1988) and then as General Secretary of the Church of Scotland's Board of Ministry until he retired in 2002. He was Moderator of the General Assembly of the Church of Scotland 1997–8. His formal title (following the end of his Moderatorial year) is The Very Reverend Dr Alexander McDonald.
Television career
In the early 1980s, he co-presented the Scottish Television religious magazine programme That's the Spirit! and was also interviewed on VIP, also an STV religious show. His role as Moderator of the Church of Scotland meant he was one of the public figures who led tributes to Princess Diana upon her death in 1997 in a BBC broadcast. In May 2008, he made a non-speaking cameo appearance in the Doctor Who episode "The Unicorn and the Wasp", playing the part of a footman alongside his son. They also appeared together on an episode of celebrity Ready Steady Cook. He was one of the interviewees for his son's Special Recognition Award at the National Television Awards in 2015.[3]
Personal life
McDonald survives his wife Helen, daughter of former footballer Archie McLeod, who died on 15 July 2007.[4][5] He has a daughter, Karen, and two sons, Blair and David, who is better known as the actor David Tennant.
References
- ↑ 1.0 1.1 Fasti Ecclesiæ Scoticanæ: The Succession of Ministers in the Church of Scotland from the Reformation, Volume 10. Oliver and Boyd. 1981. ISBN 9780715204955.
- ↑ "Very Rev. Dr. Alexander McDonald". Frost's Scottish Who's Who.
- ↑ https://m.youtube.com/watch?v=I90Qy91_iLE
- ↑ "Tributes pour in for Helen". Paisley Daily Express. 20 July 2007.
- ↑ "Deaths". Glasgow Evening Times. 19 July 2007.
| Religious titles | ||
|---|---|---|
| Preceded by John H. McIndoe |
Moderator of the General Assembly of the Church of Scotland 1997–1998 |
Succeeded by Prof. Alan Main |