Rev William G Beattie
T.P.H.D. recently heard of the death of the Rev William G Beattie (aged 89) who was minister of Trinity Possil Church from 1957 until the union with Henry Drummond Church.
There are many still in the congregation who remember Mr Beattie and have fond memories of his ministry,and pastoral care. His teaching brought many to Christ during his ministry.
The following tribute was published in the Hamilton Advertiser:
Rev. William G. Beattie, known to many as Bill, died peacefully at Udston Hospital on September 7 and his funeral took place at the church on Friday.
Bill Beattie served as minister of St Andrew’s from March 2, 1967, until he retired on August 31, 1986.
Born in Glasgow in 1919, he was educated at Shakespeare Primary School and North Kelvinside Secondary before moving on to Glasgow University where he gained a B.Sc. in Pure Science in 1948.
From there, he gained his BD in 1953 from the same university and Trinity College.
Rev. Beattie, who was a grandfather, was ordained in 1951 and served in Kilmarnock and Possil, Glasgow, before moving to Hamilton.
He and wife Marion wed in 1952 and went on to have four children - Stephen, Esther, Richard and Philip.
The Rev. Beattie also served as depute clerk for the Presbytery of Hamilton from 1982 until 1983.
St Andrew’s Parish Church’s current minister, the Rev. Norman McKee, this week paid tribute by stating that Bill was a man of great integrity and courtesy.
“He displayed in all of his ministries, the talents God had given him and was a fine and respected teacher and communicator of the Gospel,” Mr McKee added.
“He never forced himself on people. He was entirely non-confrontational and a man from whom many could take a lesson in humility.
“His professionalism was exercised together with a great humanity, which was displayed in both his working and private life in love of people and deeply of his family.
“Those who knew Bill were greatly privileged and all are thankful for the call he sustained, the commitment he had, the long life of service into an old age and the enormous faithfulness displayed over these many years.”
The Rev. McKee concluded: “All are the poorer he having gone from us, but without doubt, the better for having known him.
“We are thankful for who he was, created by God and serving that same God all of his life.”
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