Wylie, Malcolm Macleod (1901-1985)

Transcription of obituary published in the Minutes of Conference

MALCOLM MACLEOD WYLIE: born at Glasgow on 2nd October, 1901. Leaving school at fourteen, when his father and brother were called up, he went to work for a firm of dispensing chemists. He was greatly influenced by the manager, a Local Preacher, and by the Rev. Robert Robson, who constantly prodded the shy youth to get up and speak in Christian Endeavour meetings. 

His call was towards missionary work, and, after theological training at Hartley Victoria College, he went for a year’s missionary and medical training in London. He served in Fernando Po from 1927 to 1934, preaching in Spanish and turning his hand to school-building and cocoa-farming and medical work. In 1929 he came to Scotland on furlough, to marry Miriam Marshall, and to be ordained at Alexandra Parade Church, Glasgow. In 1934 he returned to serve in Glasgow Parkhead Circuit, and thereafter in Glasgow Claremont (Clydebank), Leith and Trenent, and the North of Scotland Mission. 

His great warmth and understanding of people were born out of the struggles of his life, as breadwinner for a large family, as a pioneer missionary and as a minister on Clydeside, devastated by the blitz. He involved himself in evangelistic campaigns, conducted open-air services and served as Industrial Chaplain to the docks and Rank’s Mill at Leith. With Miriam, he created a family home which was always open to visitors, especially from overseas, and he inspired both his sons to serve the Church. He loved his people and was loved in return. In his retirement at Kirkliston he continued to preach in the Edinburgh and Forth Circuit and for the United Free Church at Falkirk. 

After a brief illness, he died on 22nd May 1985, in the eighty-fourth year of his age and the fifty-ninth year of his ministry.

Family

Malcolm was born on 2 October 1901 at Glasgow, Lanarkshire.

He married Miriam Cameron Marshall (1901-2002) in 1929.

Malcolm died on 22 May 1985 at Edinburgh, Scotland.

Circuits

• Hartley
• 1927 Supply
• 1928 Fernando Po
• 1934 Glasgow
• 1936 Burnbank
• 1946 Glasgow Clar
• 1953 Edinburgh L
• 1962 N Scotland M
• 1967 Edinburgh (S)

References

Methodist Minutes 1985/92

W Leary, Directory of Primitive Methodist Ministers and their Circuits, 1990

Census Returns and Births, Marriages & Deaths Registers