Page 14 - LOTN Autumn Issue 48 2021

OBITUARY

Canon Alistair Doyle RIP our man down. First I
was a “pagan”, Alistair
said, and then a “reject”.
anon Alistair, in his self-deprecating way, asked He asked Cardinal Gray
that there be no eulogy and quoted the famous of Edinburgh what he
Cremark about such: one man in a pulpit lying about should do. At that time,
another man lying in a coffin. there was no bishop
So, this is not a eulogy. It is a funeral homily - which is a in Aberdeen and the
different thing altogether. Cardinal suggested
The hymns and two of the three readings, including the trying there. Alistair
Gospel we’ve just heard, were Canon Alistair’s choice. It was examined by
says much that he should choose the story of the woman two Canons, Sandy
caught in adultery. For St Augustine, this was an encounter MacWilliam and
between someone in a mess and the mercy of God, misera Thomas McLauglin,
et misericordia, the sinner and the Lord. I suspect that and was accepted. Canon Alistair Doyle
the phrase which resonated with him was, “Neither do I Shortly after, Mgr
condemn you.” There are few words, from that Source, we Michael Foylan was nominated Bishop of Aberdeen! To
would rather hear. Our hope may be that he has heard conclude the Foylan thread, though, I must quote what the
those words already. Bishop said five years later when Alistair was incardinated:
Since the passing of the MacDonald brothers, Canon “I welcome you with a great heart and wish you every
Alistair was the longest serving priest in the diocese. It blessing, happiness and progress in holiness in the service
seems right to recall his life. He was born in Montrose in of our blessed Master among the priests and people of the
1937 and brought up in Dundee. He was at school at Diocese of Aberdeen.” Elsewhere he wrote: “an excellent
Lawside Academy. He was not baptised till he was five, priest”. So, not a reject. “Neither do I condemn you.”
when his widowed and remarried mother entered the The rest is diocesan history. He was incardinated in 1969.
church. On the basis of this he referred to himself as a He first served at Holy Family, Mastrick and the Cathedral,
“pagan”. The parish priest who baptised him was one Fr then in Brora, Peterhead, Banff, Inverness (St Ninian’s), Elgin
Michael Foylan, later to reappear in his life. and Mannofield, accompanied by his dedicated cousin,
In his teens, some Irish Augustinian missionaries who had Monica. He was at times a Prison Chaplain, RAF Chaplain,
served in Nigeria took over the local parish. He owed them, Hospital Chaplain, Chaplain to the British Legion. He was
he said, the beginnings of his vocation and claimed that involved for years in what is now the Supplementary
the idea of being a missionary appealed to him because Aid Society and was made a Canon of the Cathedral
he was naturally restless. The Augustinians advised him to Chapter in 2000. He had a constant interest in education
look elsewhere. So - still following Canon Alistair’s account and catechetics. He gained an external degree from
- he found a Congregation with the word “missionary” in the University of London and a Diploma in Education
its title and joined them: the “Missionaries of St Francis de elsewhere. He wrote short articles also on spiritual themes,
Sales”, also known as the Fransalians. He entered them in often published in the Light of the North. As with Jeremiah,
1954, made his first profession in 1955, was sent for priestly so with Alistair, words were put in his mouth. It was a full
studies to St Mary’s Oscott, and was ordained a priest on ministry, with many different aspects. More recently, since
17th March 1962, in St Chad’s Cathedral, Birmingham. his retirement in 2008, he became famous for his impressive
Canon Alistair would have kept his diamond jubilee of willingness to supply for his fellow priests when they were
priesthood next year. It’s touching, incidentally, that we away. An experience of the diocese he already described
have two young men here today about to begin studies at as “varied” now became still more so. He was eager to fill in
the same Seminary. As a Fransalian, he worked in parishes anywhere. There was a blossoming; no more admin, fabric
in Yeovil and Devizes. His confrères considered him a and finance, just the pastoral connections he so enjoyed.
zealous student and priest, but something of a loner, not Everywhere he went he was appreciated: for his friendly
a community man. It’s true: there was always something gentleness, for spiritual sermons, for a conspicuous ease
elusive about him. I can understand him registering that with his priesthood. One never heard bad things said
line of St Paul: “Each of us will give an account of himself about him, and he was simply happy to do what priests do.
to God” or thinking of the sinful woman alone before the His last supply was, as we all know, Orkney. There began
Lord. But these beginnings in what was radically a French the unexpected chain of events that led to his death. His
Congregation left their legacy. The zeal remained, and so diamond jubilee was not to be, but he died appropriately
did a readiness in French and an abiding interest in some on the eve of the memorial of St John Vianney, the Curé
of the great spiritual writers of that country, especially St of Ars, patron saint of parish priests. “I have always looked
Francis de Sales himself. He kept the French connection on hearing Confession my main duty and privilege”, Canon
throughout his life, not least with Annecy in French Savoy. Alistair wrote in his funeral instructions. That was why he
Anyway by 1964, through causes which included his chose the Gospel that he did. “Neither do I condemn you.
mother’s health, he found himself back in Scotland and Go and sin no more.”
applying to serve as a diocesan priest. He approached May he rest in peace.
the diocese of Dunkeld. The protocol in those days was to
appear before the Chapter of Canons, the Provost of the Bishop Hugh Gilbert OSB
Chapter happening to be one Michael Foylan. He turned St Peter’s, Buckie, 10 August 2021

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