MACDONALD, JOHN FINLAY (1878-1952)

MACDONALD, JOHN FINLAY, United Church minister, Tabusintac and Burnt Church, 1926-33; b. Springhill, N.S., 4 Nov 1878, s/o John F. MacDonald and Sarah Stewart; m. 1911, Elizabeth Forsyth, of Annapolis Royal, N.S.; d. Sydney, N.S., 18 May 1952.

John F. MacDonald was employed with the YMCA as a young man and spent five years as a lay missionary at Harrington Harbour in Labrador. He finished his theological studies at the Presbyterian College in Halifax in 1914 when he was thirty-six years old. After his ordination he had Presbyterian pastorates at LaHave and Joggins, N.S.

MacDonald came to Tabusintac in 1926 as the first United Church minister and stayed for seven years. When he resigned it was to accept a call to Debec in Carleton County. His last pastorate was at Waweig, near St Stephen. He retired in 1940 and was predeceased in 1944 by his wife, Elizabeth Forsyth. He was survived by a daughter and a son. He was visiting with his son in Sydney, N.S., at the time of his death.