OBITUARY

Press, Volume CIX, Issue 32048, 24 July 1969, Page 14

OBITUARY

Very Rev. M. W. Wilson

A former Moderator of the General Assembly of the | Presbyterian Church of New Zealand, the Very Rev. Malcolm William Wilson, died in Christchurch yesterday. He was 64. Mr Wilson, who was Moderator of the General Assembly in 1962-63, was a former president of the National Council of Churches From 1951 to 1966 he was minister of Knox Church, Christchurch. Mr Wilson was born at Queenstown, where his father was the Presbyterian minister. He was educated at the Turakina Primary School, Palmerston North High School, and Wanganui Technical College. After leaving school he worked in the Health Department and then went to Otago University, where he graduated master of arts.

After studying at Knox College, and Westminster College, Cambridge, be returned to New Zealand to be ordained at Huntly in 1931. In 1934 he returned to England to be minister of the Presbyterian Church at York. In 1938 Mr Wilson was called to Chalmers Church, Timaru, and in 1951 to Knox Church, Christchurch. He accepted a call to the Kowai parish at Sefton at the end of 1966. Mr Wilsonvwas prominent in ecumenical affairs and in

education and public affairs. He also took an interest in marriage guidance and the Heritage movement. From 1942 to 1943 he was a chaplain in the Royal New Zealand Air Force. Mr Wilson was a former convener of the Presbyterian Board of Education and was actively associated with both St Andrew’s College and Rangi-Ruru School. He was chairman and chaplain of the latter school and for several years was a member of the University of Canterbury Council. He was also president of the Canterbury Council of Civil Liberties. Mr Wilson is survived by his wife, three-sons and three daughters. ’