Margaret MacKinnon 27.02.1934-21.03.2026
Margaret MacKinnon was born in Bishopbriggs, Glasgow, into a Christian home.
Her father, Donald, was from Dunvegan in Skye . He worked in McBrayne’s office in Glasgow and met Margaret’s mother, also Margaret, there. They settled in Hope St. Free Church, under the ministry of Rev R A Finlayson and Donald became an elder there.
The family lived through the trauma of the Second World War, and then went on to experience great family grief with the loss of Margaret’s older brother and only sibling, John, a bright young Christian, to Leukaemia when he was just 17 and Margaret 15. Then Donald’s death followed some five years later.
Meanwhile Margaret trained as a teacher and soon felt a call to mission work in Peru. But how could Margaret leave her twice bereaved mother behind? The answer was unusual, but one that brought many blessings with it. Mrs MacKinnon, now in her late 50s, accompanied Margaret as they set sail for the great unknown with its new culture, new language and the challenge of forming completely new friendships. Though never able to master Spanish very well, Mrs MacKinnon provided a stable, warm home for Margaret, along with generous hospitality to all other Free Church missionaries and Peruvian colleagues. She also gave valuable help to the Headmaster, Rev James MacIntosh, with his extensive English correspondence.
Margaret began teaching in Colegio San Andres in Lima in 1957. Her main responsibility there was class teacher of P3. While she kept a firm discipline in her classes of about 40 boys, she became known as kind and compassionate with a very personal interest in the welfare of each of her pupils. A keen sense of humour proved to be a great asset both in the classroom and in her wider personal relationships. In addition to her teaching responsibilities, Margaret played an active role in leading Scripture Union camps in the summer and was a wise counsellor to young Christians from both the Peruvian and expat communities. She was also a much appreciated baby-sitter for other missionary families, whose children loved the time spent with “Auntie Margaret”.
In 1966, Mrs MacKinnon’s need for medical treatment led to Margaret’s resignation after 9 fulfilling and greatly appreciated years in Colegio San Andres. Margaret returned to teaching in the Glasgow area.
She retained a great love for Peru and the Spanish language all her life. In 1984 the Foreign Missions Board asked Margaret to return to Peru for six weeks during her summer holiday to assess and advise on the educational needs of the Douglas family, in Cajamarca, and the Ford family, in Celendin, as they continued their education in Peru and also then prepared for return to the UK. Both families found Margaret’s input very helpful with the young David recalling that “Auntie Margaret” was strict!
Margaret had a lifelong association with Scripture Union and a real heart for young people. She taught in Sunday School in Hope Street Church, later St Vincent St.
When Ian and Alina McKenzie began the ministry to international students, known then as SOS, Service to Overseas Students, Margaret helped by teaching Sunday School and playing the piano. She continued teaching the Sunday School during the services in Strathclyde University Chaplaincy Centre when Finlay and Christine Mackenzie moved into that ministry on the retiral of Ian and Alina. Margaret prepared her lessons meticulously and the children she taught really loved her. We could also always rely on her to be there and take part in the regular SOS prayer meetings.
When Margaret’s health started to decline she moved into Mearns View Care Home in November 2023. She was very happy there and much loved by all the staff who appreciated her sense of humour, but were also able to see that her quiet, assured faith sustained her right to the end.