Rev. Canon Archibald Sholto Douglas
The Rev. Canon Archibald Douglas, TD, formerly Vicar of
Siddington, and Honorary Canon of Chester Cathedral, died 11
February, 2004. He was aged 89.
Archibald Sholto
Douglas was born 22 April, 1914, son of Sholto James Douglas
(1866-1950), descended from the Scottish Earls of Morton, by
his wife Grace Elizabeth Gibson-Craig (of the
Gibson-Craig-Carmichael Baronets).
His paternal
grandfather, the Rt. Rev. the Hon. Arthur Gascoigne Douglas,
was Bishop of Aberdeen and Orkney 1883-1905, and was fifth
son of George Sholto
Douglas, 17th Earl of Morton (1789-1858).
He was
educated at Brighton College, and Selwyn College, Cambridge
[BA 1937, MA 1946].
He was the Vicar of Capesthorne and Siddington from 1955, until his
retirement in 1982, with his incumbency being enlarged in 1965 to
include the neighbouring parish of Marton.
After his retirement, Archie continued to take services in Capesthorne
Chapel, and to play a full part in village life until he became ill late
last year. He died in Macclesfield District General Hospital.
His funeral took place at Siddington Church, when an estimated 300
people gathered to pay their last respects to a man everyone knew simply
as Archie.
Archie will perhaps be most widely remembered for the annual Animal
Service at Siddington Church. What began in a modest fashion in the late
1950s went on to attract TV and radio coverage across the UK as it grew
in popularity. Hundreds of people with their pets, both mundane and
exotic, used to gather from all parts of the North West and Midlands in
the churchyard. The services stopped shortly after Archie retired.
He also enthusiastically carried on the traditional Water Lily Queen
fete at Redesmere, which began in the 1930s, and which continues to
thrive in the twenty-first century. He opened the fete in 2002 when the
sixtieth Queen was crowned.
Archie was also highly regarded for his enthusiastic development of
youth facilities - in particular his junior choir at Siddigton was at
times so big it boasted three football teams which competed in a local
league.
His lasting effect on his parishes can never be underestimated. He has
christened babies, watched them grow up, married them and then
christened their own children. He combined the role of a parson with the
charm and conviviality of a traditional country gentleman, endeared
himself to people from all walks of life, and placed the church firmly
at the centre of the community.
Archie Douglas was born into a historic Scottish family on St George's
Day in 1914. He was a graduate of Selwyn College, Cambridge, and had a
military career which saw him serving with the King's Own Scottish
Borderers in France (where he was a prisoner of war for a period) and
India, where he served on the notorious North West Frontier. He served
in the 15/7 Rajput Regt ad was awarded the Burma Star.
He left the Army as a Major after the war and joined the Ministry, but
continued his association with the Territorial Army and was given the
Territorial Decoration.
Career:
Vicar
of Capesthorne and Siddington, Cheshire, from 1955;
Chaplain to the
High Sheriff of Cheshire, 1960-61;
Chaplain to the Forces;
Late
Major, the 4th Battalion, King's Own Scottish Borderers [Territorial
Army].
He received the Territorial Decoration in 1950.
Canon Douglas never married.
The funeral took place at All Saints
Church, Siddington, 25 February, 2004.
Any contributions will be
gratefully accepted
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