The former rector of the Church of the Holy Rood in Carnoustie and vice provost of St Paul’s Cathedral in Dundee has died at the age of 88 after a distinguished career.
Rev Canon Douglas Mackay was born and raised in Glasgow, leaving school at 14 to work in a jewellery shop. He was so trusted by the owners that he made deliveries all over the city and later bought and sold jewellery for the firm from all over Scotland.
He became interested in the business and enrolled at Glasgow University to study gemmology. After university he started working for upmarket shop Porter and Sons.
When the firm decided to open a new jewellers shop in Edinburgh in 1952, Mr Mackay was put in charge.
That same year he married Catherine, and they later had two daughters, Jane and Catherine.
A life changing moment occurred when the Principal of Edinburgh Theological College of the Episcopal Church Rev Richard Wimbush came into the shop looking for a repair to be made to a chalice.
They engaged in conversation and shortly afterwards Mr Mackay started studying and submitting essays to the Principal before joining the other students.
He was a dedicated scholar and won the Earl of Rosslyn Prize, given to the student who showed the most potential.
After graduating, he was appointed as precentor at St Andrew’s Cathedral on the banks of the River Ness in Inverness in 1958.
His next appointment was to be rector of Gordon Chapel in Fochabers in 1961, which was the private chapel of the Dukes of Richmond and Gordon. At times he had Princess Margaret and Prince Charles in the congregation.
He expressed his desire to find a good secretary to Gordon Baxter, owner of Baxters the soup company whose family were all church members. Mr Baxter immediately offered him the use of the administration staff at the factory.
In 1964, Mr Mackay was given the additional charge of priest to the orphanage in Aberlour where he had the care of over 500 children and young people.
The following year he became synod clerk and also the youth convenor for the Diocese of Moray, which meant he was required to attend a lot of meetings in Edinburgh.
Realising the vast amount of time he was spending travelling to the meetings, he was moved to the Church of the Holy Rood in Carnoustie in 1972, where he was rector for 25 years.
He loved living in Carnoustie and the rectory door was always open no matter the time of day or night.
He became heavily involved in the local community. He was president of the British Red Cross in the town from 1974 to 1982, chairman of Carnoustie Community Council from 1979 to 1981 and president of Carnoustie Rotary Club in 1976.
One of his most satisfying achievements was founding Carnoustie Community Care helpline in 1981 with Dr Sandy McKendrick.
Aided by community volunteers, the group provides transport to help people attend medical appointments. The helpline received the Queen’s Award for Voluntary Service in 2010.
His community spirit was recognised in 1998 when he was awarded the title of Carnoustie’s citizen of the year.
During this time he severed for the Diocese of Brechin in a variety of roles including synod clerk, convenor of the joint board and convenor of the administration board.
In the 1990s he also became a tutor and examiner at the University of Dundee’s medical centre, a role which he carried out for 14 years.
He taught students the importance of treating the patient as well as the medical problem, emphasising that they could help with patients’ spiritual needs as well as their physical needs.
He was appointed the vice provost of St Paul’s Cathedral in Dundee in 1998 where he remained until his retirement in 2012. He was also the British Legion chaplain from 2001.
His funeral will be held on September 29 at the Church of the Holy Rood in Carnoustie. It will also be broadcast into the church hall.
Mr Mackay is survived by his wife, two daughters and three grandchildren.