Susan Elizabeth MacDonald (born 11 July 1951) is a Scottish Anglican priest. She has been Rector of Christ Church, Morningside, Edinburgh since 2007. From 2012 to March 2017, she also served as the Dean of Edinburgh.[1]


Susan Macdonald
Dean of Edinburgh
ChurchScottish Episcopal Church
DioceseDiocese of Edinburgh
In office2012 to 2017
PredecessorJohn Armes
SuccessorFrances Burberry
Other post(s)Rector of Christ Church, Morningside, Edinburgh (2007–present)
Orders
Ordination1996 (deacon)
1997 (priest)
Personal details
Born (1951-07-11) 11 July 1951 (age 72)
NationalityScottish
DenominationAnglicanism
Alma materEdinburgh Theological College

Early life and education edit

Macdonald was born on 11 July 1951.[2] In 1993, she entered Edinburgh Theological College, an Anglican theological college to train for ordination in the Scottish Episcopal Church.[3]

Ordained ministry edit

Macdonald was ordained in the Scottish Episcopal Church as a deacon in 1996 and as a priest in 1997.[3] Between 1996 and 1998, she served her curacy as a non-stipendiary minister at St John the Evangelist, Jedburgh in the Diocese of Edinburgh.[2][3] Then, from 1998 to 2001, she was a priest of St Peter's Church, Galashiels.[2]

Macdonald was appointed to head her first church in 2001; that year, she became priest in charge of Gordon Chapel, Fochabers.[2][3] From 2001 to 2004, she was also co-ordinator of Mission 21 for the Diocese of Moray, Ross and Caithness.[2] She was a Canon of Inverness Cathedral from 2003 to 2004.[2] She was Missioner for the Diocese of Aberdeen and Orkney from 2004 to 2007.[4]

Since 2007, she has been the Rector of Christ Church, Morningside, Edinburgh.[5] In March 2012, it was announced that she would be the next Dean of Edinburgh and therefore the first female dean in the Scottish Episcopal Church.[6] She was installed as Dean on 13 May 2012 at a service in Edinburgh Cathedral.[6] On 5 March 2017, she stepped down as dean and was succeeded by the Frances Burberry.[7]

References edit

  1. ^ Edinburgh Anglican
  2. ^ a b c d e f "MACDONALD, Very Rev. Susan Elizabeth". Who's Who 2016. Oxford University Press. November 2015. Retrieved 11 July 2016.
  3. ^ a b c d "Susan Elizabeth Macdonald". Crockford's Clerical Directory (online ed.). Church House Publishing. Retrieved 11 July 2016.
  4. ^ Crockford's Clerical Directory 2008/9 p 883: London, Church House, 2008 ISBN 978-0-7151-1029-4
  5. ^ Church website
  6. ^ a b "First female Dean is to be appointed in Edinburgh Diocese". Anglican Communion News Service. Anglican Communion Office. 26 March 2012. Retrieved 11 July 2016.
  7. ^ "A New Dean for Edinburgh". Diocese of Edinburgh. January 2017. Retrieved 7 April 2017.
Anglican Communion titles
Preceded by Dean of Edinburgh
2012 – 2017
Succeeded by