Tributes to Peter and Margaret Fraser
From Moriston Matters, Issue 18, April 1980.
REV. PETER FRASER, M.A., B.D.
Glenmoriston in 1949, when Peter and Margaret with William and Helen (James was to join the family the following year) arrived there, was in the throes of both Hydro-Electric and Forestry development and Peter was not only Parish Minister, but Chaplain to the work force - over 800 - under the Rev. John MacIntyre, the first Industrial Chaplain appointed by the Church of Scotland. Peter as resident in the Glen was instrumental in such integration as was possible between the Glen and the workers. Engineers now scattered all over the world, who had worked on the Cluanie and Loyne Dams, the Dundreggan Dam or the Levishie scheme, still ask about the Rev. Peter. He was the friend of all and had two of the engineers living with him in the Manse.
His pastoral work, in which he was ably assisted by Margaret, a born efficient organiser, endeared him to all who resided in the Glen. Communion Services, at which I have served as an elder, were occasions of the meeting of many denominations - Church of Scotland, Church of England, Catholic, Baptist, Methodist, Brethren. I recall taking a party of six French Catholic girls from Allt Saigh to the lovely Church, none lovelier in the Inverness Presbytery. It was in this Presbytery that Peter served all his life - as Divinity student; his Licensing to preach; his Ordination before going abroad and as Parish minister.
He served .his community also as County Councillor in Inverness County Council and later as District Councillor. Both in the religious and secular he was a most sincere, conscientious and level-headed servant - thus he is described by a colleague on the Council.
A true and faithful servant of his Master.
J .D.M. (GLENURQUHART) .
The Rev. Peter Fraser, yes that is a name that must arouse memories to many people, not only to residents in the Glen, but all over the world. Some will recall occasions which were of very special importance in their lives others a fleeting recollection of a happy holiday in GIenmoriston, but to all the Rev. Peter Fraser is an integral part of the Glen.
He was inducted to our Parish church in July 1949 and was presented with a sum of money from the congregation. With this money he bought a bicycle, and one can imagine how familiar the sight must have been as he rode about "His Father's business". We know how much travelling he has to do with the car to help cover the miles and we can guess how much harder it was on a bicycle on the old roads. I suspect though, that there had been an even deeper feeling of belonging to God and to the folk of the Glen in those days.
A few weeks after his arrival he held his first christening, that of Johan Ferguson on the 27th August and since then has baptised almost 200 children. Many, many couples must feel more completely bound in marriage because of his blessing their union. In the same way many sorrowing relatives must have been comforted by his presence when they lost a loved one.
Almost any minister can climb into a pulpit and deliver a sermon. Why else, if one has the calling, should one choose the ministry, but it takes a very special person to do that and also conduct a tiny service every Sunday in a room in a forestry house. Yet this our minister did for many years, and more recently he has held the "Junior Church" in the home of Mr and Mrs MacRae, Bunloyne.
The coming of the Hydro and the building of the dams must have been the most dramatic event in the Glen and I've no doubt brought extra trials and tribulations as well as extra employment and prosperity.
One of the happiest functions held in the Hall was the "Welcome to William and Betty" after their wedding. It must have gladdened the hearts of Peter and Margaret to see how genuinely fond we were of the "family at the Manse".
Another happy occasion was celebrated in the hall when Peter had completed 25 years of service in the Glen. The community again joined in showing their appreciation of his ministry. Peter and Margaret were presented with an electric fire and given an expenses paid holiday on Iona, something they both enjoyed very much. Most ministers have a month's annual leave but for various reasons this was not possible in Glenmoriston and so it seemed a happy choice to all concerned.
Now that the time has come for the Rev. Peter to retire we all hope that he will feel it was good for him to have been here with us in our beautiful glen, as we know, in our hearts, it was good for us to have him amongst us.
H. E . M.
When I arrived in Invermoriston less than two years ago Mr and Mrs Fraser soon displayed in the most tactful yet positive way their long-standing interest and participation in school life. Since then I have been grateful for the advice, comfort and support that has been readily forthcoming, but never imposed.
Mr Fraser has a great knack of involving each one of us personally in his Friday morning lessons at school, and of provoking interesting thoughts in the children's minds. His skill in relating the New Testament's teachings to their own lives has often stimulated lively discussion, and no boy or girl has every been left unheard when they indicated their eagerness to tell of an experience or to express an opinion of their own.
Mrs Fraser too has contributed much to the education of the children: encouraging them to make practical use of their written language by submitting articles for "Moriston Matters"; developing in them a sense of community responsibility by involving them in all village and church activities; and passing on to them something of her skill and enthusiasm for country dancing.
It is with deep regret that Invermoriston School will bid farewell to the Rev. and Mrs Fraser. The only consolation is that we know they will not be too far away and we hope they will always feel welcome to come and see us at any time.
M.L.N. (Marion Nicholson)
It is not easy to write a farewell message to Rev. Peter Fraser. For fifteen years we have been neighbour ministers in Glenmoriston.
My first meeting with Mr Fraser, was at my induction in Fort Augustus Free Church on 29th April 1965. Someone mentioned that the Church of Scotland minister from Glenmoriston was present and that he might say a few words if asked to do so. On being called upon Mr Fraser responded readily and his kindly words of welcome are still remembered.
On many occasions since we have met and have discussed various aspects of our work and our relations have been good and helpful.
Although Mr Fraser is shortly to leave this Glen we do not feel that he will be far from us. His thoughts and affections will be with the warm-hearted people of Glenmoriston and surrounding district.
We wish both Rev. and Mrs Fraser a long an happy retirement in Kiltarlity.
J.F. (John Fraser)
After many years as a loyal and active member of Glenmoriston S.W.R.I. Mrs. P. Fraser will be leaving us to begin her new life in Kiltarlity.
During her membership Mrs Fraser was Vice-President for several years and Secretary for 3, then President for 13 years, after which she became Secretary again, and has regularly attended the Triennial Conference in Edinburgh spending countless hours and travelling many miles on representing and organising the group's interests. In fact, she has been one of the pillars of this Institute and will be sorely missed.
We all send our grateful thanks for all her help and encouragement and wish her and Mr Fraser all the best for their retirement.
W.T. (Wendy Tomlin)
(From Issue 19)
When I became parish priest at Fort Augustus just six years ago and began to work in Glenmoriston alongside Mr Fraser, the first thing that struck me was how well he knew the Glen and its people. He knew everybody, long-established inhabitants and newcomers alike. What was more, he cared about them all. He excluded nobody, whether they belonged to his congregation or not.
Soon I realised that Mr. Fraser, far from ever doing anything that would keep Protestants and Catholics apart, was eager to bring all sections of the community closer together; Glenmoriston could give a few lessons to some less enlightened places on how to make all citizens alike feel that they belong. All were welcome at the various occasions, in the Laird's house or the schools or the hall or the hotel, and Mr. Fraser was present whenever possible. I am sure he did a lot to foster this spirit.
It was the custom for the priest to go to the Invermoriston School each Friday morning at the same time as the minister and teach the Catholic children. At the time I had more schools to visit than there were days in the week and so I could not manage every Friday. Mr. Fraser, however, was ready to include the Catholic children in his class whenever I did not arrive, and we all knew that he would honour that trust most faithfully. Later he arranged for me to join him in teaching all the children together, and even to take the class alone when I was there and he was not. This is one of my most pleasant memories of my five years as parish priest and I am grateful to Mr. Fraser and also to Mrs. Morris and, later, Mrs. Nicholson.
Mr. Fraser carried this christian co-operation a stage further when he began to invite the priest to take part in funeral services whenever the family of the deceased had Catholic connections. It was a great pleasure to me when Catholics on their side expressed the wish that he would take part in a service conducted by the priest.
A typical example of how Mr. Fraser worked was the Christian Aid collection each year. He was already including the Catholics, giving them too the chance to contribute if they wished. Then he invited me to share the collecting and organising, and the cause of christian unity was advanced a little further. And let me say at this point, all the time one was aware of Mrs. Fraser sharing his ideals and extending her kindness and thoughtfulness to everybody alike.
While willing to help and co-operate with Catholics in the Glen, Mr. Fraser - and this impressed me greatly - was always careful not to give any appearance of infringing their rights or putting pressure on them or treading on their toes in any way. He was, for example, anxious that the hall should be ready for us whenever we had Mass there, and I remember how concerned he was on the few occasions when everything was not in order.
In fact, my abiding impression is of his dedication and spirit of service, his genuine pastoral care, his love of his flock. He was clearly trying to follow his Lord and Saviour. I am grateful not only for having worked with Mr. Fraser for five years but also for his friendship and his christian example. To him and to Mrs. Fraser I say Thank you and may God's blessing remain with you.
M . D.