Donald McAlister, who has died aged 96, was a witness to one of the most momentous events in Scottish church history.
He was a child of three in his mother’s arms in 1929 when he was taken to watch a procession at the Royal Mile and Mound, Edinburgh, to mark the reunification of the Church of Scotland and the United Free Church.
The church had split in 1843 in a row over the right of the political establishment to appoint ministers.
Doctorate
Donald went on to become ordained as a minister in the reunited church and earned his doctorate studying Paul’s letters to the Romans.
Rev Dr McAlister was towering in stature, a traditional Presbyterian who preached with precision and authority.
His former colleague and friend, former Kirk Moderator Very Rev Derek Browning, said his ministry was also etched with dignity and suffused by kindness.
Donald John Barker McAlister was born in Orkney in June 1926 and moved to Bainsford, Falkirk, as a child where he father was appointed minister.
War years
During the Second World War he served as a Bevin Boy in the coal mines, which was hard and frightening work.
After the war he felt called to the ministry and took his Bachelor of Divinity degree at New College, Edinburgh.
It was there he met and made lifelong friends with Bill Barker of the Presbyterian Church in the USA.
Donald married Marda and Bill married Jean and the couples travelled widely together over the years.
Ordination
In 1951, Donald was ordained and took up his first charge at MacIntosh Memorial Church, Fort William, before being called to Blackadder Parish Church, North Berwick, in 1960.
In the late 1980s Donald and Marda, who had three children, Bryan, Deirdre and Kathryn, retired to Moulin, Pitlochry, where they became valued members of the community.
Horticulture
Donald took a great pride in his garden and will be remembered for growing vegetables and tomatoes which he gave to neighbours.
Dr Browning said: “Donald gave so much of himself to so many people and his abiding presence will remain in the lives of those of us who knew him.”
Conversation