Perth reverend dies after short illness

Sep 26 2008 by Gordon Bannerman, Perthshire Advertiser Friday

RETIRED St John’s Kirk minister the Rev David Ogston died this week after a short illness at Roxburghe House. He was 63.

On Tuesday at noon, a Thanksgiving Service will be held at the Perth kirk, where he was a valued and respected minister for nearly 30 years, drawing friends from across the country.

The service will be conducted by long-time friend and colleague Rev Johnstone McKay.

The son of a crofter, he was born in Ellon in 1945 and educated at Inverurie Academy and Aberdeen University, completing an MA before studying divinity and graduating with a BD in 1969.

Initially, he was an assistant at St Giles in Edinburgh and after his first charge at Balerno, he moved to Perth in 1980.

Rev Ogston championed the Doric tongue. A regular contributor to Radio Scotland, he was also the author of “White Stone Country” and “Dry Stone Days”.

He had chaplaincy roles at Perth Academy and Perth High School, in addition to being chaplain to the High Constables of the City of Perth for many years. He also enjoyed close ties with the Guildry Incorporation.

The Rev Ogston played an integral part in a wide range of civic life.

Yesterday, Perth and Kinross Provost John Hulbert paid warm tribute to a “man of many talents”.

The Provost said: “As minister of St John’s Kirk of Perth, one of the most important churches in Scotland, he had many a difficult service to conduct – none more so, than when preaching to the councillors and council officers at the annual Kirkin’ ceremony.

“As chaplain to the council for more than 25 years, his sermons on these occasions always addressed the topical situation with sharp analysis, wisdom, and solid Christian advice.

“He also presided over other important official services, including the annual Remembrance Day service, visits of Royalty, and the funeral of Gulf War casualty Lance Corporal Barry Stephen.

“He was always kind and considerate, able, even in difficult times, to heal wounds and make an individual feel valued. His sense of humour was always at hand to lift the situation.

“Born in Aberdeenshire and educated at Aberdeen University, the Scots language, and in particular the Doric, was very important to him. He was an admirer of William Lorimer’s translation of the New Testament into Scots. He wrote and published a Wedding Service in Scots, “What God hes Buckelt”, in the Lorimer vein, and used it on at least one occasion.

“Perhaps his last act in this regard was to remind the Scots world of the words of the “Methlick Grace”, in the correspondence columns of the ‘Herald’, in February.”

Rev Ogston, who retired from St John’s last September, is survived by his wife Meg, daughters Katie and Ruth, and two grandchildren.