User:Gillecriost MacLaren/sandbox

'''Alexander John MacLeod 1917-2006 ''' (Gaelic patronymic: Alasdair mac Alasdair)

Alex John MacLeod was a multi-lingual preacher who could preach in Gaelic, English, Arabic and French.

Born on 14 September 1917 at 1 Upper Barvas, Isle of Lewis, one of five siblings, namely, Angus (1920-2006), Margaret (1922-1991), Iain (1926-1997) and John Allan (1928-1994), to Alexander Graham and Catherine (nee Mackenzie) MacLeod, who latterly moved to No. 44 Springfield Road, Stornoway.

Educated at the Nicolson Institute, Stornoway (1922-1935), University of Glasgow MA BD (1936-1942) he was licensed to preach by the Presbytery of Lewis in June 1942 and served during World War II with Church of Scotland Huts and Canteens thereafter till 1945. Ordained and inducted to Portree on 2nd May 1945, he demitted the charge on his appointment to Iraq where among other duties he was Chaplain to the Iraq Petroleum Company. Translated to St. Andrews Church, Brussels in 1959 continuing there until his retirement in 1972 when he settled in London residing at 72 Cathcart Road London SW10.

In his latter years in London he regularly attended the London Gaelic Services held quarterly at Crown Court Church of Scotland, Russell Street, Covent Garden WC2. To these services he bequeathed the residue of his estate.

Died on 9th March 2006 at Bangkok, Thailand

Sources Fasti Ecclesiae Scoticanae (The Succession of Ministers in the Church of Scotland since the Reformation), entry for Portree (p.690), Iraq (Volume IX, p765) and for Presbytery of Europe, Brussels (Volume X, p.412); Life and Work, magazine of the Church of Scotland, October 2006, List of Legacies to Funds of the Church of Scotland; Life and Work, magazine of the Church of Scotland, November 2006, ‘Gaelic Explanation’ by Norman MacLeod, p.37.