‘Consummate parish minister’ the Rev Gordon G Stewart

The Rev Gordon G Stewart, former minister of St Leonard’s in the Fields Church Perth, has died aged 83.

A native of Dundee, he was educated at Morgan Academy. He studied at the universities of Aberdeen, where he was awarded a blue for cross-country running, and then St Andrews, where he enjoyed his lifelong love of golf.

His career began with three years as assistant minister of Dundee Parish Church St Mary’s.

In 1963 he became minister of Bonnyrigg, a mining town near Edinburgh with a large congregation and a Sunday school of 700.

During his time there he was a regular broadcaster, presenting a series on ITV and a weekly schools service on BBC Radio Scotland. In 1970 he moved to Perth where he remained until retiring to Blairgowrie in 2000.

Those who knew him said he was a consummate parish minister who cared deeply for all to whom he ministered, whatever their background.

An inspiring preacher, he took to heart the advice that a minister should preach with the bible in one hand and a newspaper in the other.

He used to wake up early on a Sunday morning to check if a major story had broken overnight and update his sermon.

He was chaplain at Perth Prison, where inmates and staff would often struggle with the fact that the Protestant chaplain was a keen Celtic supporter. He served the wider community of Perth as president of Perth Rotary Club, chairman of Viewlands Primary School Board and moderator and then clerk of Perth Presbytery.

In all of his work he was supported and encouraged by his wife Margaret, who predeceased him.

He is survived by his three sons, Andrew, who is a Court of Session judge, Charlie who is vicechairman of Independent Advocacy Perth and Kinross and Jamie who is with British Transport Police.

A service of thanksgiving will be held at St Leonard’s in the Fields Church in Perth on Monday June 25 at 11am.

Rev Gordon G Stewart: Golfer, Celtic supporter and former broadcaster.