The Lord MacLeod of Fuinary | |
|---|---|
| Moderator of the General Assembly | |
 | |
| Church | Church of Scotland |
| In office | 1957 to 1958 |
| Predecessor | Robert Scott |
| Successor | John Fraser |
| Other post | Leader of theIona Community (1938–1967) |
| Orders | |
| Ordination | 1924 |
| Personal details | |
| Born | George Fielden MacLeod (1895-06-17)17 June 1895 |
| Died | 27 June 1991(1991-06-27) (aged 96) |
| Nationality | Scottish |
| Denomination | Presbyterianism |
| Education | Winchester College |
| Alma mater | Oriel College, Oxford University of Edinburgh Union Theological Seminary, New York |
| Military career | |
| Service | British Army |
| Years of service | 1914–1918 |
| Rank | Captain |
| Unit | Argyll and Sutherland Highlanders |
| Battles / wars | World War I |
| Awards | Military Cross Croix de Guerre (France) |
George Fielden MacLeod, Baron MacLeod of Fuinary,Bt, MC (17 June 1895 – 27 June 1991) was a Scottish soldier and clergyman; he was one of the best known, most influential and unconventionalChurch of Scotland ministers of the 20th century. He was the founder of theIona Community on the island of Iona and served asModerator of the General Assembly of the Church of Scotland (1957).
He was born inGlasgow in 1895. His father (SirJohn MacLeod) was a successful businessman before entering politics as aUnionist MP; his mother Edith was from a wealthyLancastrian family (owning cotton mills). From this background and heir to a baronetcy, George MacLeod was educated atWinchester College andOriel College, Oxford.[1] His paternal grandfather was the highly respected RevdNorman MacLeod of theBarony Church,Glasgow, aModerator of the General Assembly of the Church of Scotland and Chaplain toQueen Victoria.
Upon the outbreak of theFirst World War, and having been a cadet in theOfficers Training Corps, MacLeod was commissioned in theArgyll and Sutherland Highlanders, British Army, as atemporarysecond lieutenant on 19 September 1914.[2] He first saw active service in Greece. After falling ill withdysentery, he was sent back to Scotland to recuperate, after which he was posted toFlanders. On 24 June 1917, he was made anadjutant and promoted toactingcaptain.[3] He saw action atYpres andPasschendaele. He was awarded theMilitary Cross (MC) in October 1917,[4] and the FrenchCroix de Guerre with palm for bravery in 1918.[5]
T./Lt. George Fielden MacLeod, Arg. & Suth'd Highrs.
For conspicuous gallantry and devotion to duty as adjutant, volunteering to go out and do duty in the hastily-organised line of defence when no company officers remained. He carried out his duties as adjutant as well, and was of the greatest assistance in keeping cohesion.
— Military Cross citation inThe London Gazette[6]
His experience of this total war profoundly affected MacLeod, leading him to train for the ministry. He studied divinity at theUniversity of Edinburgh, followed by a year atUnion Theological Seminary, New York City (1921-1922). Upon return to Scotland he was invited to become Assistant atSt Giles' Cathedral. During this period he became increasingly concerned over the issue of social inequality in Scotland. In 1924 he was ordained as aChurch of Scotland minister, to be Padre ofToc H (Talbot House) in Scotland. Such non-parochial appointments were extremely unusual at the time. Following a disagreement, he resigned from Toc H in 1926, but was invited to become associate minister atSt Cuthbert's Church, Edinburgh.
His wartime experiences, combined with a profound disillusionment by post-World War I political rhetoric of "a land fit for heroes," deeply affected him. Confronted by the realities of thedepression and unemployment faced by those less privileged than he, MacLeod gradually moved towards supportingsocialism andpacifism. From 1937 he became actively involved with thePeace Pledge Union (PPU), and from 1958 with theCampaign for Nuclear Disarmament (CND).
Meanwhile, in 1930, to considerable surprise, he decided to leave St Cuthbert's Church to become minister atGovan Old Parish Church—encountering the considerable social problems caused by poverty in this part of Glasgow. The pace of work took its toll and in 1932 he suffered abreakdown. He spent some time recuperating inJerusalem in early 1933. While worshipping in anEastern Orthodox Church onEaster Day he felt a profound spiritual experience, feeling a sense of recovery of the Church as the corporateBody of Christ. This would strongly influence the rest of his life.
He resigned (giving up the financial security of aparish minister'sstipend) to become the full-time leader of theIona Community, which he founded in 1938. His efforts started in the early 1930s when he bought Fingleton Mill as a refuge for Glasgow's poor.[7] The idea of rebuildingIona Abbey using ministers, students and unemployed labourers working together influenced his thinking; the Iona Community developed as an internationalecumenical community, with offices inGovan and a presence on the island ofIona. Underpinning the fellowship of the Community were four emphases: mission, political involvement, a ministry of healing, and worship, by which MacLeod and the Community sought a way to connect the Church with an industrial age. He led a series of parish missions (sometimes known as a 'Message of Friendship') in Scottish parishes associated with the Community, and supported the 1950 Glasgow Churches' Campaign and the 1950sTell Scotland Movement. However, he opposed the invitation promoted by Rev.Tom Allan to DrBilly Graham that led to the 1955 All-Scotland Crusade.[8]
He was one of the signatories of the agreement to convene a convention for drafting aworld constitution.[9][10] As a result, for the first time in human history, aWorld Constituent Assembly convened to draft and adopt theConstitution for the Federation of Earth.[11]
During World War II, he served aslocum minister atCanongate Kirk in Edinburgh—a parish also then afflicted by poverty.
In 1948 (aged 53) he married Lorna; immediately after the wedding they travelled to Australia for a preaching tour. The 1940s and early 1950s were a difficult period professionally. MacLeod was involved in what became known as the "Govan Case." He was invited by the congregation to return toGovan Old Parish Church in 1948, but the Presbytery of Glasgow refused to approve his appointment, given his wish to continue his active leadership of the Iona Community. The case was referred to the General Assembly; ultimately he was refused permission to combine the two posts.
Despite a feeling of hurt and rejection over the "Govan Case", MacLeod remained one of the highest-profile figures in theChurch of Scotland. In 1957 he was electedModerator of the General Assembly of the Church of Scotland, following one Commissioner standing up and asking whether it was appropriate that a man who had been described as being "half way to Rome and half way to Moscow" should be Moderator.
On 6 February 1967, MacLeod was awarded apeerage, becomingBaron MacLeod of Fuinary, ofFuinary inMorven in theCounty of Argyll;[12] the only Church of Scotland minister to have been thus honoured.[citation needed] He wasintroduced to the House on 15 February 1967.[13] He later became the first peer to represent theGreen Party.[14]
From 1968 to 1971, he wasRector of the University of Glasgow.[15] The rector is one of the most senior posts at theUniversity of Glasgow and is elected by the students.[16]
George MacLeod's influence on theChurch of Scotland was considerable. His initial emphasis on parish mission was generally welcomed and favourably compared to the campaigns of his contemporary,D.P. Thomson.[17] Although dismissed by some as a maverick, he helped to raise awareness ofpacificism,ecumenism andsocial justice issues, and inspired many to become involved with such questions. Through the creation of theIona Community, he was a pioneer of new forms of ministry (outside more conventional parish orchaplaincy structures).
In 1989 MacLeod received theTempleton Prize.[18]
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| Academic offices | ||
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| Preceded by | Rector of the University of Glasgow 1968–1971 | Succeeded by |
| Baronetage of the United Kingdom | ||
| Preceded by Ian MacLeod | Baronet (of Fuinary) 1944–1991 | Succeeded by John MacLeod |
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| People | |
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