Gifted musician Monsignor Benjamin Donachie

A DUNDEE-BORN priest who was one of the leading musicians at the mass in Glasgow’s Ballahouston Park during the visit to Scotland of Pope John Paul II in 1982 has died.

Mgr Benjamin Donachie, pictured, a retired priest of the Diocese of Dunkeld, was 85.

Born in Lochee, he was educated at Lawside A cademy and St A ndrews University. A fter graduation, he spent two years in the RA F, before deciding that he wanted to study for the priesthood.

He spent five years at the Seminaire St Sulpice in Paris and was ordained by Bishop William A ndrew Hart in St A ndrew’s Cathedral, Dundee, on June 29 1958.

He then joined the staff of Blairs College, A berdeen, which was then the National Junior Seminary for Scotland.

He was appointed college rector in 1974, a post he held for six years.

Mgr Donachie, who was made a prelate of Honour to Pope John Paul II in 1984, returned to Dundee in 1980 as chaplain to Wellburn Home.

He was appointed parish priest of St James’, Kinross, in 1981, a post he held for six years, before moving to St Ninian’s, Dundee.

A fter three years in Menzieshill, he moved to be parish priest of St Thomas’, A rbroath, where he was to remain until he retired.

He was appointed a Canon of the Cathedral Chapter in 1981, becoming an Honorary Canon on his retiral in 2005.

A gifted musician, Mg r Donachie wa s asked in 1982, by Bishop Vincent Logan, now Bishop Emeritus of Dunkeld, to lead the Diocesan Choir, and he was director of the choir for 23 years.

Bishop Logan said: “Mgr Ben was a dedicated priest, who served the people of God in this diocese faithfully for almost 50 years.”