Mourning the loss of our Honorary President, The Rt. Hon Lord Mackay of Clashfern

We mourn the loss of our Honorary President, The Rt. Hon Lord Mackay of Clashfern

‘Precious in the sight of the Lord is the death of his faithful servants’ Psalm 116:15

The Scottish Bible Society is mourning the loss of its Honorary President, Lord Mackay of Clashfern, whose faithful service and steadfast support have been a great blessing to the Society for many decades. Lord Mackay served as Honorary President from 1996, offering wise counsel, generous encouragement, and a deep commitment to the Society’s mission.

Throughout his long association with the Scottish Bible Society, Lord Mackay championed our vision of being advocates for the Bible across every sphere of Scottish life. He believed that those in positions of influence should recognise the enduring value of the Bible in shaping a just, compassionate, and caring society.

Lord Mackay was widely respected for his Christian faith and his conviction that the Bible should remain a foundational influence in many areas of public life. He was a strong supporter of the Society’s initiative to present a Bible to every court in Scotland and endorsed the distribution of The Bible in Scots Law to members of the Scottish legal profession. In doing so, he affirmed his belief that the Bible is a “foundational source book for Scotland’s legal system.”

As we give thanks for Lord Mackay’s life and service, we remember with gratitude his unwavering commitment to the Bible, his distinguished public service, and the encouragement he gave to the work of the Scottish Bible Society. His legacy of faith, integrity, and leadership will continue to inspire us, and our thoughts and prayers are with his family and all who mourn his passing.

Scottish Bible Society Chairman, The Rt Hon Lord Arthurson, said:

“The Rt. Hon Lord Mackay of Clashfern showed long and unwavering support for, and service to, the Scottish Bible Society. We were honoured when His Lordship accepted the role of Honorary President in August 1996.

We mourn with the rest of the country, the loss of a remarkable public servant who was not afraid to highlight the importance of the Bible and the guidance he found in it for his personal Christian faith, but also the weight it holds for society as a whole.” 

Scottish Bible Society Chief Executive, Ms Elaine Duncan, said:

“Lord Mackay was a great ambassador for our commitment to sharing the Bible and strongly promoted the Bible in the public square. His personal commitment to growing in his relationship with God through engagement with the Bible will be a legacy not quickly forgotten.

His loss will be greatly felt by us all at the Scottish Bible Society and across the nation of Scotland. We thank God for his life and service.”