THE Outer Isles Presbytery of the Free Presbyterian Church of Scotland, met at Stornoway, on 25th September, 1945, decided to draw up a tribute to the late Rev. M. Gillies, who was Clerk of Presbytery and Assistant Clerk of Synod. The Presbytery wish to put on record their grief and sense of loss sustained by his death at 60 years of age. Although he had been ill six months ago, they didn’t expect his removal from their midst so soon. He belonged to Glasgow. His father was from Islay, and his mother from Sandwick, Lewis. As his father was an elder in St. Jude’s, Kirk Session, he was brought into contact with vital Christianity from his early boyhood. His father was noted for catechising his friends, so it is likely his family would be well catechised, and instructed as well as prayed for.
After studying for the Holy Ministry, he served the Church in Canada. His first charge was Halkirk congregation. He was Minister at Stornoway for over 20 years. He knew the procedure in Church Courts, and was orderly in his methods, especially at Inductions and Ordinations. As a preacher of the Gospel he was popular at communions. He specialised in expounding obscure texts in the Old Testament, which are rarely preached on. His funeral was attended by a large concourse of people from all parts, including many of his brethren in the Ministry of the Gospel. The Presbytery deeply sympathise with his widow and family in their sore bereavement, and commend them to the “Father of mercies and God of all comfort.”