Church of Scotland minister dies aged 58 following long illness

Tributes have been paid to a Church of Scotland minister who has died aged 58 following a long illness.

Rev George Cowie was clerk to the Presbytery of Glasgow and a Chaplain-in-Ordinary to Her Majesty the Queen.

He has been described by friends and colleagues as a man of “deep compassion, wisdom, integrity, humour”.

They said the church has lost a “true servant of Christ” in the Dundee-born minister.

"The Church has lost a true servant of Christ and our thoughts and prayers go out to his family at this very sad time." @PresofGlasgow #Glasgow https://t.co/wEQeiaI5OP
— Church of Scotland (@churchscotland) January 6, 2022

Rev Cowie was raised in the Hyndland and Jordanhill areas of Glasgow and studied at the University of Glasgow.

He trained as a civil engineer and worked with Tayside Regional Council before entering the ministry.

Rev Cowie was licensed by the Presbytery of Glasgow in 1990 and ordained and inducted to the charge of Auchtertool linked with Kirkcaldy: Linktown in Fife in 1991.

In 1999, he moved to Aberdeen, the city of his father’s birth, to be the minister of Holburn Central Church.

The congregation united with Ruthrieston South Church in 2006 and became South Holburn Church.

Rev Cowie, who is survived by his wife Marian, a fellow minister, son Graeme, daughter Kay and grandson Logan, served the congregation until 2017 when he took up the Presbytery of Glasgow role.

Rev Dr Grant Barclay said Rev Cowie, who died peacefully on December 21, was “ideally suited” for the role of clerk to the Presbytery of Glasgow.

“He had a wide experience of church life as a parish minister in Fife and then in Aberdeen and possessed a deep knowledge of Church law,” said Dr Barclay, who took over the position when Rev. Cowie’s health declined.

“Many ministers and staff members in congregations across the presbytery and beyond found George’s principled commitment, genuine care and sense of humour immensely supportive and encouraging.

“Members of the presbytery office remember him as a committed clerk, a compassionate colleague and a man of great faith and integrity.

“George was everything we could have wanted in a boss – he was one of a kind and will be missed.”