On behalf of the Board of Trustees:
It is with sadness and respect that everyone here at Solas CPC remembers Gordon Wilson, who passed away yesterday in Dundee. Gordon was the co-founder of Solas and served as the first Chairman of the Board of Trustees. The organisation owes a great deal to his initial impetus and his drive.
He once told me about the combination of circumstances which brought him and his wife Edith to St Peter’s Free Church in Dundee, where he came to feel that David Robertson’s gifts as an evangelist were not being developed effectively enough. He believed that after years of church decline it was time for a Christian counter-attack. This was the genesis of Solas, which he described, saying “I managed the business side, including the eventual incorporation and strategy (and money where I had the legendary reputation of being able to say ‘No’ to spending!). Everything else was dealt with by David, and in its early form it was a platform for his evangelism. The longer term aim was to provide training and education for Church-based Christians to give them confidence to project the faith to the wider public.”
Since Gordon retired as chairman in 2013, he has maintained his interest as the work of Solas has grown and developed. As a movement we give thanks to God for his vision and we rejoice in the great hope of the gospel which Gordon longed to see spread far and wide.
D. J. Randall, Chairman
On behalf of St Peter’s Free Church:
The congregation of St Peter’s have been deeply saddened to hear of the death of one of our members, Gordon Wilson, the former MP and leader of the SNP. Gordon was also the founder together with myself of the Solas – Centre for Public Christianity. He and Edith have been a lively and lovely part of our fellowship for the past few years and we will miss them enormously. Humble, generous and servant-hearted, they have been a consistent encouragement to us. At a personal level I will miss his humour, wisdom and insight, not only into political affairs but also other aspects of humanity. He was kind, gracious, loyal and intelligent. I regard him as a significant mentor, influence and friend. Before he died he told me that he had no fear because he knew where he was going, only sorrow for the family that he would leave behind. We share with Edith and the family in that sorrow and pray that they would know the comfort of the Comforter. We give thanks for Gordon and his life and witness. Scotland will be a poorer place without him.
D. A. Robertson, Minister
