Tributes paid to dedicated priest who adopted city
A Catholic priest who gave 65 years of his life to his religious calling has been remembered in Perth where he was based for many years.
Monsignor Charles Canon Hendry was a Dundonian who adopted Perth as his home.
He was parish priest at St John the Baptist RC Church on Melville Street and also at St Mary Magdalene Church in Glenearn Road for 12 years from 1992, became priest in residence at St John Baptist for another two years.
When this semi-retired situation was not satisfying he went back into a more active role and was given the smaller parish of St Mary Magdalene for his final posting.
He died on April 10, aged 87, at Perth Royal Infirmary after a pre-existing condition worsened.
Despite coming from Dundee, he asked to be buried in Perth.
Right up until his own death, he was a regular visitor to that hospital visiting sick parishioners.
Former Perth city councillor and regular contributor to Catholic life in Perth, Archie MacLellan knew him well and said: “Monsignor Hendry was a remarkable man and much loved.
“He served his parish exceptionally well, but his caring love for people went well beyond that, visiting people in hospital every week, regardless of their creed.”
Monsignor Hendry was born on January 22, 1933 and as a priest had a long association with Perth. His first posting was to St John the Baptist Church as assistant priest in 1955.
He was only 22 when he was ordained that year in St Andrew’s Cathedral in Dundee - and being so young, he had to seek permission for this from the Pope.
That first appointment to Perth lasted nine years. Many who have celebrated their 60th wedding anniversary recently were married by Father Hendry as he was then.
In 1964 he went to St James in
Kinross, where he stayed until 1969.
Following that, from 1969 to 1992 Charles Hendry was the priest at a number of places, in Doune, Dunblane, Highvalleyfield on the Forth, Dundee, Tullibody and St Fillan’s in Crieff.
The year 1992 saw him return to Perth, to his old church from three decades before, St John the Baptist.
The Very Rev Steven Canon
Mulholland, the priest there now, wrote recently to parishioners of his colleague’s sad passing.
He said: “It is with a heavy heart that I share with you the sad news of the death of Monsignor Charles Hendry.
“Many words will be used in the coming days to describe his ministry amongst you. The memories we treasure, of a parish priest and pastor and teacher, of a friend and colleague and mentor, will form I am sure, a tribute to someone who gave so much to so many.
“I commend his grieving family and his sweet soul to your prayers.”
Canon Mulholland added yesterday: “He was known particularly by the parish’s older generation, he was part and parcel of church life.
“He lived his priesthood on every level, especially in his attention to the sick and to people in care homes.
“Later this year he was due to celebrate 65 years in the priesthood - he wanted to keep on going, despite having a worsening medical problem.
“We will miss him very much.”