An Angus church is ”overwhelmed” after being gifted a chunk of a local man’s £1.5 million fortune.
Reverend Denis Warnock gave £25,000 to St Vigeans Church in Arbroath, where he was a regular before falling ill just over two years ago.
Mr Warnock, who died in June, also gifted £1.4m to Christian Aid, gave his £180,000 Arbroath home to the Church of Scotland and £30,000 to close friends.
St Vigeans Reverend Dr Nelu Balaj told The Courier: ”We were really taken by surprise and overwhelmed by his generosity. He was very active in the church and we are very grateful for his donation. The money will allow us to develop the ministry of the church for the community.
”We feel it is not just for the church itself but also for the community and the way we reach out with God’s love. We want to make the church the heart of the community again and that’s what we will be trying to develop.
”Reverend Warnock was a very modest man with a heart for others. He was a very private person and I’m sure even this tribute would have embarrassed him.”
Rev Warnock’s connection with St Vigeans Parish Church was special because it is where he did his trials for licence as a preacher of the gospel.
Born in the Dyke Church Manse, he followed his father into ministry, studying at St Andrews University where he graduated with a Bachelor of Divinity (BD).
His probationary ministry was in Aberdeen, where he was later ordained to the Word and the Sacrament, prior to going overseas under the auspices of Overseas Mission of the Church of Scotland.
He served in Kenya from 1954-58 and thereafter in South Africa from 1959-62, before returning to Scotland where he had a very fruitful ministry at Torbain, Kirkcaldy, remaining there for the next 26 years until his retirement. After retiring he came to Arbroath to live in the family home with his sister, the late Dr Grizel Warnock.
He served the wider work of the church as moderator of the presbytery of Kirkcaldy, served on General Assembly and Presbytery committees and was interim moderator in a number of vacancies.
Latterly, he had a seat in the presbytery of Angus and was regular in his attendance.
Local minister Rev Andrew Begg paid tribute to his friend.
He said: ”Denis was incredibly generous to a number of charities, particularly to the ex-Gurkhas and Christian Aid. When he arrived in Arbroath he knew that there was only one church he wished to attend as a member, St Vigeans, where he had been licensed to preach.
”We give thanks to Almighty God for Denis Warnock, who walked faithfully with his Lord and fulfilled to the best of his ability his calling as a minister of the gospel.”
Rev Dr Ian Gough was his minister and friend at St Vigeans and said it was not a great surprise he left most of his money to charity.
He said: ”However, it was a surprise how much he left. The fortune certainly didn’t come from his time as a minister. I suspect it may have come from his mum or sisters, who were doctors.”