Alan McDonald
- September 29, 2025
- 74 years
About Alan McDonald
Alan McDonald, 74, Scottish parish minister, moderator of the General Assembly of the Church of Scotland (2006–2007).
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Full Biography
|Alan Douglas McDonald (6 March 1951 – 29 September 2025) was a Scottish parish minister who was the moderator of the General Assembly of the Church of Scotland, from the Assembly of May 2006 until May 2007.
Early life
McDonald was born, an only child of Douglas and Ray McDonald, on 6 March 1951 in Glasgow, and was raised in Newton Mearns. He was educated at Glasgow Academy. He had trained initially as a lawyer (gaining an LLB from the University of Strathclyde), training at the Glasgow based law firm, Biggard Lumsden, and then working as a solicitor for Farquharson Craig, in Edinburgh.
Ministry
Through influence at Broom Church Youth Fellowship and Rev. Neilson Peterkin, McDonald decided to enter Church of Scotland ministry.
He studied for the ministry at New College, Edinburgh (BD, MTh), graduating in 1978. During his training, he spend time at Andover Newton Theological Seminary in Boston, USA. He was ordained in 1979. He first served as an assistant minister in Greenside Parish Church, Edinburgh, and was subsequently a community minister in West Pilton, Edinburgh. He served for 15 years in Holburn Central Church, Aberdeen, before being called, in 1998, to the Fife parishes of Cameron and St. Leonards (St Andrews). From there he retired in 2016.
He was involved on the board of Christian Aid, and was a regular contributor to BBC Scotland's Thought for the Day.
In 1993, McDonald was a peace monitor in South Africa during the height of the apartheid riots. He also was a passionate campaigner against nuclear arms, a result of which he was once arrested at Faslane and imprisoned in Maryhill police station.
He was the convener of the General Assembly's Church and Nation committee for four years until May 2004. He was a committed campaigner against sectarianism, and McDonald was the convenor of the committee in 2002 when it published a report admitting that the Kirk was guilty of sectarianism in the past. In his year of Moderator in 2006, he attended a Rangers v Celtic game along with Cardinal Keith O'Brien in an effort to bridge the sectarian divide that often arose during Old Firm matches.
During the General Assembly of 2006 where he was Moderator, he asked John Bell, and others to help lead the daily worship. In his year of Moderator, McDonald visited Elmina Castle on Ghana's Gold Coast, one of the principal points of departure for the slave trade. In addition, he went to the Commonwealth War Memorial cemetery at Tyne Cot, which had been the scene of the battle of Passchendaele during the First World War. There, McDonald led the evening service at the Menin Gate in Ypres. He also, as Moderator, went to Faslane to both meet those working in the station, but also to the Peace Camp outside.
Personal life
He was married to Judith – a GP in Cupar - since July 1975, at Comrie Parish Church. Together they had a son and a daughter: Neil, who has worked as a lawyer, and Ali, who has worked in a women's refuge in Liverpool. He had four grandchildren. His formal title (following the end of his Moderatorial year) was the Very Reverend Dr Alan McDonald.
He was a supporter of Aberdeen Football Club, and a keen golfer. He was also a keen marathon runner and music lover.
Latterly, he lived in Linlithgow and was a member at St Michael's Parish Church, Linlithgow. He had latterly lived with dementia. He died on 29 September 2025, at the age of 74, after a lengthy illness. His funeral will take place at St Michael's Church and Falkirk Crematorium on 24 October 2025.
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Sources
- Wikipedia
- https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Alan_McDonald_(minister)
- CC BY-SA 4.0
- Sep 26, 2026
- View article
- Sep 26, 2026
Trivia & Knowledge· 15 questions
Questions drawn from Alan McDonald's archived record and the sources above.
1.In what city was Alan Douglas McDonald born?
- A.Aberdeen
- B.Glasgowcorrect
- C.Fife
- D.Edinburgh
Alan Douglas McDonald was born on 6 March 1951 in Glasgow.
Source: Early life section
2.Which educational institution did Alan Douglas McDonald attend for his undergraduate law degree?
- A.University of St Andrews
- B.University of Strathclydecorrect
- C.University of Edinburgh
- D.Glasgow Academy
Alan Douglas McDonald gained an LLB from the University of Strathclyde.
Source: Early life section
3.Before entering the ministry, for which law firm did Alan Douglas McDonald work as a solicitor?
- A.Farquharson Craigcorrect
- B.New College
- C.Biggard Lumsden
- D.Cameron and St. Leonards
Alan Douglas McDonald worked as a solicitor for Farquharson Craig in Edinburgh.
Source: Early life section
4.In what year was Alan Douglas McDonald ordained as a minister?
- A.1979correct
- B.1978
- C.1998
- D.1975
Alan Douglas McDonald was ordained in 1979 following his studies at New College.
Source: Ministry section
5.Which foreign theological institution did Alan Douglas McDonald visit during his training?
- A.New College Boston
- B.Elmina Castle Seminary
- C.Faslane Theological Institute
- D.Andover Newton Theological Seminarycorrect
During his training, Alan Douglas McDonald spent time at Andover Newton Theological Seminary in Boston, USA.
Source: Ministry section
6.How many years did Alan Douglas McDonald serve at Holburn Central Church in Aberdeen?
- A.5 years
- B.15 yearscorrect
- C.10 years
- D.20 years
Alan Douglas McDonald served for 15 years in Holburn Central Church, Aberdeen.
Source: Ministry section
7.Where was Alan Douglas McDonald imprisoned following his arrest for protesting nuclear arms?
- A.Faslane detention center
- B.Cupar local jail
- C.Maryhill police stationcorrect
- D.Edinburgh prison
Alan Douglas McDonald was imprisoned in Maryhill police station after being arrested at Faslane.
Source: Ministry section
8.What title did Alan Douglas McDonald hold as the leader of the Church of Scotland Assembly from 2006 to 2007?
- A.Minister of the Gold Coast
- B.Convener of Christian Aid
- C.Bishop of Edinburgh
- D.Moderator of the General Assemblycorrect
Alan Douglas McDonald was the moderator of the General Assembly of the Church of Scotland from 2006 to 2007.
Source: Introduction section
9.Which sporting event did Alan Douglas McDonald attend with Cardinal Keith O'Brien?
- A.A Rangers v Celtic gamecorrect
- B.A local cricket match
- C.The Edinburgh Marathon
- D.The Scottish Cup Final
In 2006, Alan Douglas McDonald attended a Rangers v Celtic game with Cardinal Keith O'Brien to help bridge the sectarian divide.
Source: Ministry section
10.During his year as Moderator, which historical location in Ghana did Alan Douglas McDonald visit?
- A.Tyne Cot Cemetery
- B.The Menin Gate
- C.Faslane Peace Camp
- D.Elmina Castlecorrect
Alan Douglas McDonald visited Elmina Castle on Ghana's Gold Coast, a principal point for the slave trade.
Source: Ministry section
11.Who did Alan Douglas McDonald marry at Comrie Parish Church in 1975?
- A.Judithcorrect
- B.Ray
- C.Neil
- D.Ali
Alan Douglas McDonald was married to Judith since July 1975 at Comrie Parish Church.
Source: Personal life section
12.What is the profession of Alan Douglas McDonald's daughter, Ali?
- A.Women's refuge workercorrect
- B.Lawyer
- C.General Practitioner
- D.Minister
Ali has worked in a women's refuge in Liverpool.
Source: Personal life section
13.Which football club was Alan Douglas McDonald a supporter of?
- A.Aberdeen Football Clubcorrect
- B.Rangers FC
- C.Celtic FC
- D.Linlithgow Rose
Alan Douglas McDonald was a supporter of Aberdeen Football Club.
Source: Personal life section
14.What was the formal title of Alan Douglas McDonald after his term as Moderator concluded?
- A.The Very Reverend Dr Alan McDonaldcorrect
- B.The Minister of St Michael's
- C.The Right Reverend Alan McDonald
- D.The Bishop of Fife
Following his Moderatorial year, his formal title was the Very Reverend Dr Alan McDonald.
Source: Personal life section
15.In what year did Alan Douglas McDonald die?
- A.2025correct
- B.2016
- C.2026
- D.2024
Alan Douglas McDonald died on 29 September 2025.
Source: Personal life section
People who died on September 29
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