ONE OF Scotland’s leading churchmen, the Very Rev Professor James Aitken Whyte, a former Moderator of the General Assembly of the Church of Scotland, has died at his home in St Andrews. He was 85.

Professor Whyte, who held the chair of practical theology and Christian ethics at St Andrews University for 29 years until his retirement in 1987, was born in Leith and grew up in the years between the wars in the Trinity district of Edinburgh. He was educated at Daniel Stewart’s College, Edinburgh, where he was dux and gold medalist in 1937. He then undertook studies at Edinburgh University where he graduated with first class honours in philosophy in 1942.

Three years later he gained his Bachelor of Divinity degree at New College, Edinburgh. While there he was president of its theological society.

Professor Whyte was ordained in 1945 and subsequently acted as chaplain to the armed forces with the 1st Battalion, Scots Guards, from 1945-1948. In 1948 he was called to be a Church of Scotland minister at Christ’s Church Dunollie in Oban, where he spent six years, before accepting the charge at Mayfield North Church, Edinburgh.

He was appointed professor at St Andrews University in 1958. He acted as dean of divinity, from 1968 until 1972, and as principal of St Mary’s College from 1978 until 1982.

During his career at St Mary’s, Professor Whyte took part in many controversial debates and held numerous posts in the Church of Scotland.

They included convener of the committee on inter-church relations; serving on the overseas council, and also the World Alliance of Reformed Churches.

He was also president of the Christian Education Movement and chairman of the British Council of Churches committee on nuclear energy.

He was Moderator of the General Assembly of the Church of Scotland from 1988 to 1989.

He took a major part in the controversial debate on the admission of convicted murderer James Nelson as a church minister, speaking on Nelson’s behalf.

Predeceased by his first wife Elisabeth, he is survived by his second wife Ishbel, two sons and a daughter.