George MacLeod
Robert Scott | |
---|---|
Successor | John Fraser |
Other post(s) | Leader of the Iona Community (1938–1967) |
Orders | |
Ordination | 1924 |
Personal details | |
Born | George Fielden MacLeod 17 June 1895 |
Died | 27 June 1991 | (aged 96)
Nationality | Scottish |
Denomination | Presbyterianism |
Education | Winchester College |
Alma mater | Oriel College, Oxford University of Edinburgh Union Theological Seminary, New York |
Military career | |
Service | British Army |
Years of service | 1914–1918 |
Rank | Captain |
Unit | Argyll and Sutherland Highlanders |
Battles/wars | World War I |
Awards | Military Cross Croix de Guerre (France) |
George Fielden MacLeod, Baron MacLeod of Fuinary, Bt, MC (17 June 1895 – 27 June 1991) was a Scottish soldier and clergyman; he was one of the best known, most influential and unconventional Church of Scotland ministers of the 20th century. He was the founder of the Iona Community on the island of Iona and served as Moderator of the General Assembly of the Church of Scotland (1957).
Early life
He was born in
First World War service
Upon the outbreak of the
T./Lt. George Fielden MacLeod, Arg. & Suth'd Highrs.
For conspicuous gallantry and devotion to duty as adjutant, volunteering to go out and do duty in the hastily-organised line of defence when no company officers remained. He carried out his duties as adjutant as well, and was of the greatest assistance in keeping cohesion.— Military Cross citation in The London Gazette[6]
Ministry
His experience of this total war profoundly affected MacLeod, leading him to train for the ministry. He studied divinity at the
His wartime experiences, combined with a profound disillusionment by post-World War I political rhetoric of "a land fit for heroes," deeply affected him. Confronted by the realities of the depression and unemployment faced by those less privileged than he, MacLeod gradually moved towards supporting socialism and pacifism. From 1937 he became actively involved with the Peace Pledge Union (PPU), and from 1958 with the Campaign for Nuclear Disarmament (CND).
Meanwhile, in 1930, to considerable surprise, he decided to leave St Cuthbert's Church to become minister at
He resigned (giving up the financial security of a
Global policy
He was one of the signatories of the agreement to convene a convention for drafting a
Later life
During World War II, he served as locum minister at Canongate Kirk in Edinburgh—a parish also then afflicted by poverty.
In 1948 (aged 53) he married Lorna; immediately after the wedding they travelled to Australia for a preaching tour. The 1940s and early 1950s were a difficult period professionally. MacLeod was involved in what became known as the "Govan Case." He was invited by the congregation to return to Govan Old Parish Church in 1948, but the Presbytery of Glasgow refused to approve his appointment, given his wish to continue his active leadership of the Iona Community. The case was referred to the General Assembly; ultimately he was refused permission to combine the two posts.
Despite a feeling of hurt and rejection over the "Govan Case", MacLeod remained one of the highest-profile figures in the Church of Scotland. In 1957 he was elected Moderator of the General Assembly of the Church of Scotland, following one Commissioner standing up and asking whether it was appropriate that a man who had been described as being "half way to Rome and half way to Moscow" should be Moderator.
On 6 February 1967, MacLeod was awarded a
From 1968 to 1971, he was Rector of the University of Glasgow.[15] The rector is one of the most senior posts at the University of Glasgow and is elected by the students.[16]
George MacLeod's influence on the
In 1989 MacLeod received the Templeton Prize.[18]
Arms
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References
- ^ Millar, Barbara. "The war hero who fell to his knees and surrendered to Christ". Scottish Review. Archived from the original on 23 January 2015. Retrieved 17 January 2015.
- ^ "No. 28910". The London Gazette. 22 September 1914. pp. 7483–7484.
- ^ "No. 30266". The London Gazette (Supplement). 31 August 1917. p. 9137.
- ^ "No. 30340". The London Gazette (Supplement). 16 October 1917. pp. 10707–10710.
- doi:10.1093/ref:odnb/49886. (Subscription or UK public library membershiprequired.)
- ^ "No. 30561". The London Gazette (Supplement). 5 March 1918. p. 2924.
- ^ "Alf Goes To Work: Robert Newman Film Collection: Internet Archive". 1960.
- ^ Highet, John (1960). The Scottish Churches: a review of their state 400 years after the Reformation. London: Skeffington & Son. pp. 127–131.
- ^ "Letters from Thane Read asking Helen Keller to sign the World Constitution for world peace. 1961". Helen Keller Archive. American Foundation for the Blind. Retrieved 1 July 2023.
- ^ "Letter from World Constitution Coordinating Committee to Helen, enclosing current materials". Helen Keller Archive. American Foundation for the Blind. Retrieved 3 July 2023.
- ^ "Preparing earth constitution | Global Strategies & Solutions | The Encyclopedia of World Problems". The Encyclopedia of World Problems | Union of International Associations (UIA). Retrieved 15 July 2023.
- ^ "No. 44243". The London Gazette. 7 February 1967. p. 1429.
- ^ "LORD MACLEOD OF FUINARY". Parliamentary Debates (Hansard). Vol. 280. United Kingdom: House of Lords. 15 February 1967. col. 287–{{{column_end}}}.
- ISBN 1-873557-08-6.
- ^ "Biography of Reverend George MacLeod Lord MacLeod of Fuinary". The University of Glasgow Story. University of Glasgow. 1 February 2008. Retrieved 8 January 2023.
- ^ "The Rector". The University of Glasgow Story. University of Glasgow. Retrieved 8 January 2023.
- ISBN 978-1-871828-71-9.
- ^ "Lord MacLeod". Templeton Prize. Retrieved 4 August 2021.
- ^ "Life Peerages - M".
- George MacLeod. Founder of the Iona Community. by Ron Ferguson, Wild Goose Publications (Glasgow). New edition 2001. ISBN 1-901557-53-7
- Daily Readings with George MacLeod. ed Ron Ferguson, Wild Goose Publications (Glasgow). New edition 2001. ISBN 1-901557-55-3
- The Whole Earth Shall Cry Glory: Iona prayers. by George MacLeod, Wild Goose Publications (Glasgow). New edition 2007. ISBN 978-1-905010-10-3