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Update, 7 July 2021:
Revd Donald Strachan passed away on Saturday 3 July 2021.
Donald served in the Diocese of Glasgow & Galloway as Rector of St John the Evangelist, Coatbridge, Prison Chaplain at Barlinnie and Diocesan Supernumerary between 1973 and 1994. He lived out his retirement in North Uist and latterly was a resident in Trianaid Care Home in Carinish.
There are no funeral details at this time. May Donald rest in peace and rise in glory.
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A congregation of more than 100 drawn from all over Scotland gathered in All Saints on Tuesday, June 11, for a special Communion service to mark Rev’d Donald Strachan’s 50 years in the priesthood.
Mr Strachan said: “I was ordained priest on Sunday 9th June 1963 by the Bishop of Aberdeen and Orkney and presided at the Eucharist for the first time on 11th June, and so I am marking the 50th anniversary of that celebration today.
“In a sense, the most obvious work in a priest’s life is his celebration of the Eucharist, and for me that has been part of my every day life.”
• Acolytes Neil Glenesk and Alex Valentine; Bishop Gregor; Rev’d Donald Strachan; the retired Bishop of Moray, Rt Rev’d John Crook; Rev’d Sydney Maitland, right.
Mr Strachan presided again at the jubilee Eucharist, assisted by the Bishop of Glasgow & Galloway, the Very Rev’d Dr Gregor Duncan, with Rev’d Sydney Maitland, Priest-in-Charge of All Saints, whom Mr Strachan had helped in his own training for the priesthood.
The Bishop had earlier preached on the theme of Communion as the meal which draws Christians together, based on readings for Corpus Christi chosen by Mr Strachan:
- Epistle: 1 Corinthians 10: 16-17
- Gospel: John 6: 51-58
Members of All Saints’ choir were joined by colleagues from neighbouring St Bride’s, Hyndland, and the organist was also from St Bride’s. At the end of the service Mr Strachan distributed thanksgiving cards bearing the text of Psalm 110, verse 4, in Gaelic:
Is Sagart thu gu bràth, a rèir òrdagh Mhelchisedeic.
In English:
The Lord has sworn and will not change his mind: “You are a priest forever, in the order of Melchizedek.”
The Lampeter Four
From Rev’d Anne Tomlinson’s blog, Ministry Development in Glasgow and Galloway
Donald was joined by three colleagues who had likewise trained at St David’s Lampeter, two of whom are well known in, and much loved by, the SEC: the Rt Revd John Crook and Revd Canon John Woodley.
Donald was also joined by fellow members of the Societas Sanctae Crucis, a congregation of priests in the Anglican Communion who live and minister under a common Rule of Life.
