William Johnston (minister)

The Very Rev William Bryce Johnston, D.D. DLitt (16 September 1921 – 22 May 2005) was an eminent Church of Scotland minister,[1] most notably Moderator of the General Assembly of the Church of Scotland from 1980 until 1981.[2] He was fondly known as Bill Johnston.

The grave of William Bryce Johnston, Colinton Churchyard

He was Executive Committee Chairman of the British Council of Churches.[3]

Life

He was born in Edinburgh the son of William B. Johnston, a civil servant, and his wife, Isabel W. Highley.[4]

He was educated at George Watson’s College. He then studied Classics and Divinity at the University of Edinburgh and New College Edinburgh.

He was ordained as a Chaplain to HM Forces in 1945. Initially acting as Chaplain to the Kings Own Scottish Borderers he later transferred to the highly unusual role as Chaplain to the captured German prisoners of war in Scotland, having special efforts to relieve the plight of the German chaplains captured (who were treated as normal soldiers).

He was the Minister at Bo’ness from 1949 to 1954; Greenock from 1955 to 1964; and Colinton Parish Church from 1964 to 1991. At Greenock he was involved with work at Greenock women's prison. A frequent religious broadcaster he was a regular contributor to "Good Morning Scotland".[5]

In 1975 he represented Scotland at the Assembly of the World Council of Churches in Nairobi.[6]

His year as Moderator included a trip to Jerusalem to mark the 50th anniversary of the building of the Scottish church there.[7]

He was an Honorary Chaplain to the Queen from 1991.[8]

He died on 22 May 2005 and was interred in the south side grounds of Colinton Church (close to the new halls).

Family

In 1947 he married Ruth Cowley, daughter of Rev Cowley, who he met in post-war Germany. They had one son and two daughters. He has 5 grandchildren Kirsty, catriona, Alison, Andrew and James. [9]

Notes
  1. "The Very Rev William Johnston". The Independent. 28 May 2005.
  2. "C of S" (PDF).
  3. Glasgow Herald: obituary 24 May 2005
  4. Who's Who 2004
  5. Independent (newspaper): obituary May 2005
  6. Glagow Herald: obituary 25 May 2005
  7. "St. Andrew's Memorial Church – Jerusalem – Church of Scotland".
  8. "Johnston, AWilliam Bryce". Who's Who. ukwhoswho.com. 1920–2016 (January 2018 online ed.). A & C Black, an imprint of Bloomsbury Publishing plc. Retrieved 29 January 2018. (subscription or UK public library membership required)
  9. Independent (newspaper) obituary 28 May 2005
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