The Free Church of Scotland (Continuing) is pleased to announce that Rev. Kenneth M. Macdonald, retired, is the Moderator-Designate of the 2026 General Assembly. Mr Macdonald is a native of Point in the Isle of Lewis and, following his retirement from the active ministry, he and his wife Coleen made their home in the district.

Mr Macdonald had the inestimable privilege of being raised in a Christian home and these early impressions would follow him into adulthood. However, some years would pass before he could say that he had found for himself the pearl of great price. Becoming a member in Stornoway Free Church he quickly developed an interest in Mission work and soon a move to South Africa beckoned for the Macdonald family. Mr Macdonald served there as an artisan missionary for a number of years involved mainly in construction and building maintenance.

Sensing the Lord’s Call to serve in the ministry the family returned home and Mr Macdonald commenced his studies at the Free Church College. Having completed his studies he was ordained and inducted to the historic charge of Snizort on the Isle of Skye in the autumn of 1997. The sad division in the Free Church occurred early in his time at Snizort and the close bonds forged in those days continue to the present. Just over a decade later he was translated to the charge of Scalpay, Harris, where his bilingual ministry was greatly appreciated.

Although he retired from the active ministry in 2016 Mr Macdonald has continued to serve the church in many different ways; assisting with pulpit supply and serving as an interim moderator during periods of vacancy. His lifelong interest in mission work has led to his being appointed on more than one occasion as Convenor of the denominational Home & Foreign Missions Committee. And more recently he spent some time as a locum for a congregation in Canada. On the wider front he also served for a number of years on the Committee of the Scottish Reformation Society.

He and Coleen were blessed with two sons both of whom reside in Lewis. Mark, his wife Rae, and family live very close to hand in the village of Garrabost. Greg, Lorraine and their family have spent the past two decades in Ness, where Greg serves as minister of the Free Church (Continuing) congregation.

Mr Macdonald, who previously served as Moderator of the 2015 General Assembly, craves the prayers of the Lord’s people as he prepares for the duties of his Moderatorial year.
Murdo A N Macleod (Media Officer)