Murchison, Thomas Moffat

Thomas Moffat Murchison, 1907-1984, was born on 27 July 1907 . He was educated at the High School in Portree, Isle of Skye, Scotland, and from 1926 to 1932 at the University of Glasgow, Scotland and Trinity College, Glasgow, Scotland, gaining an MA in 1929. He became Doctor of Divinity in 1964 . He was a Minister Church of Scotland, first in Glenelg, Highlands, Scotland, 1932-1937; then at St Columba, Copland Road, Glasgow, 1937-1966; and finally at St Columba Summertown Church, Glasgow, 1966-1972. He was Moderator of the General Assembly of the Church of Scotland in 1969. Apart from his career in the Church Murchison was a prominent Gaelic scholar. He was crowned Bard of the National Mod in 1958 and was the Chief of the Gaelic Society of Inverness, Scotland, in 1961. He was also president of the Highland Development League. He published numerous articles in English and Gaelic and was involved in several broadcasts. His publications included: The Plight of the Smallholders (1935); and Gaelic prose writing of Donald Lamont (1960). He edited Alba, A Miscellany (1948) and The Golden Key (1950). Furthermore, he was the editor of The Gael from 1946 to 1957. He died in January 1984 .

From the guide to the Papers of Thomas Moffat Murchison, 1907-1984, Church of Scotland minister and Gaelic scholar, c1935-1969, (Glasgow University Library, Special Collections Department)