Donald M’Queen - catechist in Skye
Donald M’Queen was for seventy years catechist in Bracadale and Duirinish in Skye. A short book about M’Queen was written by his minister (James Ross) and published in 1891, perhaps surprisingly, by London-based company, Thomas Nelson. The author’s method is not to give a chronological account of M’Queen; instead he focuses on several traits that were prominent in the catechist. In fact, we learn more about Ross’ outlook than we do of M’Queen. We can also read about M’Queen in Roderick MacCowan’s Men of Skye in which a chapter is given to his life, and this chapter gives more biographical details as well as several anecdotes. M’Queen died on 13th November 1885, when he was one hundred years of age. His father had been a farmer and an innkeeper in Skye and had been able to give his son a good education (including attending a school in Inverness), which enabled him in later years to read current literature and also to contribute effectively in church c...