Alastair Haggart

Alastair Iain Macdonald Haggart (10 October 1915 – 11 January 1998) was an eminent Anglican priest.^[1]

The Most Reverend Alastair Haggart
Bishop of Edinburgh Primus of the Scottish Episcopal Church
Church	Scottish Episcopal Church
Diocese	Edinburgh
Elected	1975
In office	1975–1985
Predecessor	Kenneth Carey
Successor	Richard Holloway
Other post	Primus of the Scottish Episcopal Church (1977–1985)
Orders
Ordination	1942 by John How
Consecration	5 December 1975 by Richard Wimbush
Personal details
Born	(1915-10-10)10 October 1915 Glasgow, Scotland
Died	11 January 1998(1998-01-11) (aged 82) Edinburgh, Scotland
Nationality	Scottish
Denomination	Anglican
Parents	Alexander Macdonald Haggart & Janet Mackay
Spouse	Margaret Trundle (1945–1979) Mary Scholes (1983–1998)
Children	2
Alma mater	Durham University

Biography

Haggart was born on 10 October 1915 and brought up in Fort William. He was raised in the Free Church of Scotland, but became an Episcopalian in his early 20s. At age 23, he made the decision to train for ministry and studied at Edinburgh Theological College.^[2] From there he won an open exhibition to Hatfield College, Durham and graduated with a BA in 1941, and proceeded to an MA four years later.^[2] He married Peggy Trundle, a typist, and had two daughters.^[2]

As a student, his political convictions were left wing and pacifist.^[3] In reaction to the Spanish Civil War, he signed the Peace Pledge.^[3] He was active in the Labour Club at Durham as well as the Union.^[3]

Career

Haggart was ordained in 1941. He began his career with curacies at St Mary's Cathedral, Glasgow and St Mary's Hendon.^[4] He was precentor at St Ninian's Cathedral, Perth from 1948 to 1951. After this, he was rector of St Oswald's, King's Park, Glasgow^[5] and then acting priest-in-charge of St Martin's, Glasgow. In 1959, he became provost of St Paul's Cathedral, Dundee, a post he held until 1969 when he became principal and pantonian professor of his old theological college.

He became Bishop of Edinburgh in 1975;^[6] and Primus of the Episcopal Church in Scotland in 1977. He retired from both posts in 1985 and died on 11 January 1998.