64887: Malcolm Maclennan, Reverend

Calum Aonghais Iain

Malcolm (1862-1931) was a son of Angus Maclennan and Ann Buchanan, Valtos.  The family later moved to 11 Kneep. He received his early education at Valtos School.

Malcolm went to Canada as a young man and studied at McGill University in Montreal. In May 1888 the Reverend Malcolm Maclennan was licensed by the Presbytery of Quebec. Ordained and Inducted at St Elmo, Glengarry, Ontario on the 10th July 1888.

At Gravenhurst, Ontario, in 1889, he married Catherine Link from Ontario. The couple settled at Parry Sound, Ontario and they had two daughters. Malcolm then transferred to Kirkhill, Ontario on 14 January 1891 and served there for some years before returning to Scotland.

On the 14th January 1897 the Reverend Maclennan was inducted to St Columba’s (Gaelic) Church of Scotland in Edinburgh where he served until his retired in 1930.

Malcolm was widowed in 1920.

He was a staunch supporter of the Gaelic cause and a member of the executive of An Comunn Gaidhealach. Malcolm worked towards the seeking a stronger role for Gaelic in Scottish Education, the Gaelic clause in the Education Act of 1918 and compulsory Gaelic Education. He represented the United Free Church on a deputation to Parliament. He edited a Gaelic Reader, the Gaelic Bible for the National Bible Society and the Gaelic New Testament. He produced a revised edition of MacAlpine’s Gaelic dictionary in 1925, re-issued by Acair and Mercat in 1979.Malcolm produced many Gaelic books and translated Bunyan's Pilgrims Progress.

He championed the cause of the Reef Raiders in 1913 and played a role in securing their early release from prison. In 1929, he welcomed TB Macaulay to Uig and gave the speech that begins A Dhaoin’ Uaisil Uig. 

Reverend Malcolm Maclennan, a Doctor of Divinity died in Morningside, Edinburgh on the 1st September 1931.