Obituary: Rev Dr Moyna McGlynn, Church of Scotland minister

First Minister Nicola Sturgeon has led tributes to an immensely popular and inspirational Church of Scotland minister who has died.

Rev Dr Moyna McGlynn, popular and inspirational Church of Scotland minister. Picture: Contributed

Rev Dr Moyna McGlynn of Govan and Linthouse Parish Church in Glasgow lost her battle against cancer on Friday 5 August. She was 66.

Miss Sturgeon, MSP for Glasgow Southside, tweeted: “So sad.

“Moyna was a real force for good in Govan and she will be sorely missed.

“My condolences to her family”

Dr McGlynn’s funeral will be held on Saturday 13 August in Govan Old Parish Church, Glasgow at 11am.

It will be conducted by Rev Dr Peter McEnhill of Kilmacolm Old Kirk who knew the minister and her husband Brian for nearly 40 years.

“The untimely death of the Rev Dr Moyna McGlyn has deprived the church of one of its most talented and inspirational ministers of this generation,” said Dr McEnhill.

“Possessed of a powerful intellect and inquiring mind, Moyna nevertheless exhibited a warm humanity and pastoral sensitivity that won her a place in the hearts and minds of every congregation she served.

“A fine preacher and skilled liturgist, she was passionate about her work and the people she led and achieved great things in difficult circumstances.”

Dr McEnhill, Greenock and Paisley Presbytery clerk. said Dr McGlynn was born into a forces family which meant she moved around often from base to base.

“Perhaps it was this early form of life that made Moyna such a singular, independent and deeply private individual,” he added.

“Comfortable in her own company to be sure, but she was great fun to be with too with a ready smile and quick sense of humour.

“Moyna and her husband Brian were an engaging couple, stimulating to be with and interested in a wide range of cultural, artistic, musical and theological issues.

“They met in Dundee and were soon married and thereby created an enduring partnership that balanced and complemented each others’ temperaments and abilities beautifully.

“In the late 70s and early 80s they were among the leading figures on the Glasgow evangelical youth scene – operating out of Adelaide Place Baptist Church and including such later luminaries as Tom Morton and Ricky Ross – a bandmate of Brian’s at that time.

“Later Moyna would embark on a spiritual and theological journey that took her into the Church of Scotland and its ministry.”

Dr McGlynn trained at Glasgow University and gained a double first in Old and New Testament Honours, winning the faculty prize on the way.

She was inducted into Eastwood Parish Church in Glasgow in 1999 and embarked on a ministry which reached out beyond her own congregation to embrace asylum seekers and refugees.

Not content with a busy and active ministry, Dr McGlynn completed her PhD there - later published by Mohr Siebeck as Divine Judgement and Divine Benevolence in the Book of Wisdom, 2001.

In 2008 she accepted a call to Govan and Linthouse Parish Church and threw herself into a new ministry with great energy.

Recalling the move, Dr McEnhill said: “It wasn’t easy as the decision to close the Govan Old building as a place of worship was very controversial and there were many hurt feelings all round.

“Moyna worked tirelessly to secure a new future for the building as a pilgrimage and cultural centre for the famous medieval stones of Govan – maintaining the tradition of daily prayers on the way.

“She gave herself energetically to the Govan regeneration project, served as a Board member of the Pierce Institute and also as a member of the Galgael team.

“A particular achievement of hers was the establishment of the Govan Puppet Festival- as puppetry was a long-standing passion of Moyna’s, all the while ministering to her congregation and caring for her parish.

“As a contemporary from her time in Eastwood has posted on her facebook page ‘she was to me the epitome of a Church of Scotland minister, rational, fiercely intellectual and learned, humane, socially concerned and engaged, gentle, gracious, loving and compassionate.’”

Dr McGlynn leaves behind her Husband Brian, her children Aidan, Frankie and Ciaran and four grandchildren.

Dr McEnhill said: “She was devoted to them entirely and they to her. She is sorely missed.”

A statement released by Govan and Linthouse Parish Church said: “It is with a heavy heart that we announce the death of our Minister and friend Rev Moyna McGlynn who lost her battle with cancer.

“For those of you who knew Moyna you will know what huge loss this will be, she was a remarkable, highly intelligent, warm hearted, inspirational lady who dedicated her life to her family and her calling as a minister.

“She will be sorely missed by many.”

Glasgow Presbytery said Dr McGlynn was a great inspiration to many people.

“We are deeply sorry to announce that Rev Dr Moyna McGlynn, Minister of Govan and Linthouse Parish Church, died at the weekend,” a statement said.

“Moyna was Ordained and Inducted to Eastwood Parish church in 1999, after completing her PhD and, in 2008, translated to Govan, where she has ministered for the last eight years.

“In her faithful years of service, both to Presbytery and to her congregations, she has inspired many; the communities in which she ministered, her congregations, colleagues, ministry candidates and probationers alike.

“She will be sorely missed and we remember her husband Brian, her family and her congregation in their grief.”