On Tuesday 2nd November 2021, Knightswood Church was filled with around 100 present to mark the retirement of Rev. William Macleod.  Ordained and inducted to Partick, Glasgow in October 1976, he served the Lord there for 16 years before moving to the Island of Skye where he ministered in Portree.  He returned to Glasgow in 2006 and passed the remainder of his pastoral ministry in Knightswood (formerly Thornwood).

Proceedings began with worship, led by Rev. Graeme Craig, the Congregation’s new Interim Moderator, who preached from Galatians 1:24, “And they glorified God in me.”  In his testimony to the Galatians, Paul spoke of how true honour is done to someone when God is glorified in them.  The Churches of Judea glorified God in Paul’s conversion and in Paul’s ministry.  Every person converted to Christ, including Paul, is a trophy of God’s grace and power.  It is God who prepares every saint for service and enables him to serve.  To God alone then, belongs all the glory. Yet although believers (and ministers) are dependent on sovereign grace and power, this does not deny human responsibility.  We are to stir up the gift of God within us (even although such stirring is itself the working of the Holy Spirit).  Application was made to all, especially the Gospel ministry.

Thanksgiving for God’s grace to the Church in providing Mr Macleod as a minister was evident throughout the evening.  After supper, provided by the ladies of the Congregation, a variety of speakers were heard and greetings read.  These all showed the high esteem in which Mr Macleod is held.  Thanks were expressed for his careful, passionate preaching and his heartfelt desire for the conversion of souls.  Fellow ministers also spoke with appreciation of the wise advice Mr Macleod was ready to impart, especially in the early days of their Ministry.  The warm hospitality of the Manse and the loving support of Mrs Marion Macleod were also recognised.

Presentations were made to Mr & Mrs Macleod with Mr Macleod replying.  He spoke of God’s goodness to him, of his thoughts of the Ministry from a young age and of the Lord’s provision for him and goodness to him in his various pastorates.  The evening was drawn to a close with the singing of Psalm 116:1-7, a favourite portion of Mr Macleod, and prayer.  It was a time of thanksgiving tinged with sadness for the Knightswood Congregation.  It is the prayer of many that the Lord will continue to use Mr & Mrs Macleod in the work of the Gospel and that in the Lord’s own time he will provide a new pastor for the flock at Knightswood.

Mr & Mrs Macleod are pictured receiving presentations from Murdo Campbell, left, and his wife Pamela, right.