Although born and brought up in Glasgow, where also he spent most of his adult life, John MacPhail’s parents were originally from Lewis and that, in the ruling of Divine Providence, accounts for the fact that it was in the island of their birth that he finished his course on 14th November, 1974, seventy-two years of age.
When in 1944, through marriage, he first came to be associated with the Free Presbyterian Church, John was yet a ‘stranger to grace and to God.’ Eleven years later, however, when laid aside by illness, he was to effectually hear the voice of the Good Shepherd and accordingly was brought into His fold. The Saviour’s dealings with his soul at the time were, it would seem, precious and memorable in his experience — so wonderful and clear were the evidences vouchsafed to him of having been brought “from darkness to light, and from the power of Satan unto God.”
In November, 1955, he sat at the Lord’s Table for the first time having been received as a member by the St. Jude’s Kirk Session. Some time later he was elected and ordained to the Deaconship in that congregation. By the time he took up residence at Tong, near Stornoway, in 1968, he was suffering much from angina. Despite this disability, he was still quite active and willing to do all in his power to advance the interests of Christ’s Kingdom in these parts. In March, 1971, he was ordained as an Elder in the Stornoway congregation, and until laid aside by the illness which resulted in his lamented death, he faithfully and conscientiously discharged the duties of his office.
Kindness and generosity were marked features of John MacPhail’s character and his life, walk and conversation showed him to be a humble unassuming Christian. We would anew desire to express our sincere sympathy with his bereaved widow and daughters. Our desire for them is that the Lord would guide them here by His counsel and afterward receive them also to glory.