July 18

That fortnight each summer presented the ideal opportunity for almost total relaxation
and the chance to enjoy the delights of family life. The accommodation was perhaps fairly
primitive by today’s luxury holiday cottage standards – the boys have vivid memories of
daily showers, not in the kind of plush shower cabinet many of us have in our homes
today, but outside the door of the static caravan with a bucket of cold water - but those
were very, very happy days.
The Harris holidays allowed David the time to indulge his
talent as an artist. Painting in oils, he captured the
essence of the beauty of Harris, not least its spectacular
beaches, and for David painting was a wonderful
relaxation.
David was always immensely proud of sons David, Alasdair
and Iain. As they grew through teenage years and
beyond, he entered into – indeed he probably encouraged
– all the fun and mischief of the day. When their friends
came to stay at the manse attendance at Sunday worship
was a given and it’s reckoned that the willingness of so
many of their friends to comply with this rule stemmed
from the sheer disbelief that the hugely entertaining man
of the house could actually be a minister.
David was rightly proud of his boys, of all that they have
achieved in their lives and of the very fine people they are.
He was so proud too of his grandchildren – Rachel, Angus,
Emily and Sophie -who have brought so much fun and
pleasure to him over the years.
In his younger days David played rugby, both at school and with Glasgow High School FPs
until a serious injury ended his playing days. He was also a keen follower of Rangers
Football Club – growing up where he did, and having an aunt living on Copeland Road, it
was almost inevitable that his leanings would towards Ibrox. Saturday evening
“Sportscene” on BBC Scotland was sacrosanct.
David MacFarlane leaves a legacy of many precious memories: his joie de vivre; his
compassion; his ready humour; his dignity in worship; his generous giving of himself in
ministry; his love of nonsense; his sound faith and straightforward love of Jesus Christ;
and his absolute devotion to Penny and the family.
If I may I would like to close with one final story from his friend and colleague Andrew
Lees.
“I was visiting David Ogston (my parish minister in Balerno before I entered the ministry)
in Ninewells Hospital shortly before he died.
He said to me, "Murray Leishman (another minister), was visiting me and he said, 'I'm
going to tell you about the finest piece of parish ministry I've ever seen. It concerned
friends of mine who got news one night that their son had been killed mountaineering.
I went immediately to see them and when I was there, their parish minister arrived.
Knowing how trite ministers can be in such situations, I went to the living-room door to
eavesdrop on the first words the minister spoke. He came in and said, "Is this not just
hellish?" Murray continued, 'Sympathy, honesty but most of all bare knuckled empathy, it
was perfect. And the minister's name … was David MacFarlane.'"