Reverend Leon David Levison dies aged 95

THE REVEREND L. David Levison, a prominent figure in the Church of Scotland, has died in Dundee at the age of 95.

In a long career, he held national posts with the church and formed the central parish in the new town of Glenrothes.

Leon David Levison was born in Edinburgh and educated at George Watson’s College before going to Edinburgh University; Westminster College, Cambridge, and New College, Edinburgh, to study divinity.

His first position with the church was as assistant minister at St John’s, the Kirk of Perth, where as an outreach project he refurbished part of the old prison to make it a youth centre.

He then became minister in Gorebridge in Midlothian in 1946 and was appointed to the secretariat of the foreign mission committee at e Church of Scotland headquarters in Edinburgh.

In 1959 he was asked to establish the central parish in the new town of Glenrothes and he chose the name of St Columba’s for the church at which he preached for 11 years.

His talents again saw him called to serve at national level, and he was made convener of the ethical and moral welfare committe of the Generalassembly of the Chuch of Scotland.

In 1971 he moved to the parish of Pencaitland in East Lothian from which he retired in 1982.

Rev Levison and his wife Cecilia then moved to London to help son David raise his four children, following the death of his first wife, and continue with his career as a pathologist.

After three years David remarried and his parents returned to Scotland where they settled in Haddington.

In 1994, when David became professor of pathology at Dundee University, his parents moved to the city where, earlier this month, they celebrated their 70th wedding anniversary

Professor Levison said that in his father’s full and distinguished career he had fondest memories of his time as a parish minister.

In addition to his wife and son David, Rev Levison is survived by daughter Elizabeth who is a GP in Canada and son Christopher who is a retired minister in Glasgow and who was latterly spiritual care leader for the NHS in Scotland. He also leaves grandchildren and great grandchildren.

His funeral takes place today at Dundee Crematorium followed by a service of thanksgiving at Dundee Parish Church (St Mary’s).