Parish remembers its beloved minister
Lasting tribute to the Rev Ian U Macdonald
He was a man dedicated to his flock for 30 years.
Now the Rev Ian U Macdonald’s ministry will live on in perpetuity.
On Sunday his old church in Tarbolton remembered a great man dedicated to his parish.
A large plaque was unveiled above a picture portrait of Mr Macdonald on the wall of Tarbolton Parish Church. And the plaque features his own epitah. In his final letter to the congregation on retiral in 1997, he wrote: “Under God he tried to care for all.”
These words are now there for all to see in a prominent spot after they were dedicated by the Rev Alistair Morrison, Moderator of Ayr Presbytery.
Rev Macdonald’s sons Neil and David and family were there on Sunday.
And his granddaughter Caitlin Macdonald had a special part to play.
She piped everyone in and later played a tune for her grandpa - “Tilleadh a Chille Chomhain ( Returning to Kilchoan)” - which she wrote for him.
Present minister Rev Jill Clancy also welcomed her surviving predecessors back to the church on Sunday, Rev Mary McLauchlan who took over from Mr Macdonald, and Rev Alex Shuttleworth.
Rev Clancy said: “It is quite rare now for a minister to serve in the same church for 30 years.
“He was much loved in the community, loved to smoke his pipe, and had time for everyone.”
Also taking part in the special service was Castlehill minister Liz Crumlish as Rev Macdonald had moved to live in her parish on retiral.
Rev Macdonald was also a senior figure in the masonic movement and was lodge chaplain of Tarbolton St James 135, Ayrshire chaplain and senior grand chaplin of the Grand Lodge of Scotland ( 87- 89).
He died aged 83 exactly a year ago, never coming to terms with the death of his beloved wife Ella the previous year.