Ronnie Selby Wright

Ronald William Vernon Selby Wright CVO TD JP FRSE FSAScot (12 June 1908, Glasgow - 24 October 1995, Edinburgh) was a Church of Scotland minister.

Selby Wright - always known as Ronnie - was born in Glasgow in 1908. He became one of the best known Church of Scotland ministers of his generation and served as Moderator of the General Assembly of the Church of Scotland in 1972.

When he was three years old, Wright's family moved to Edinburgh. He was educated at Edinburgh Academy, Melville College and the University of Edinburgh. He studied divinity at New College, Edinburgh. He was probationer assistant at Glasgow Cathedral in 1936, prior to becoming minister at Canongate Kirk in Edinburgh in January 1937. His only ministerial charge, he remained at Canongate until he retired in 1977. He turned down numerous offers, including the Chair in Practical Theology at the University of St Andrews and the Chaplaincy of the University of Aberdeen.

His ministry at Canongate Kirk was notable for his social concern, liturgical interest and for the restoration of the church building. His social concern was particularly reflected in the establishment of the Canongate Boys’ Club. During his ministry the Canongate parish was one of the most run-down areas of Edinburgh, with considerable poverty — despite the presence of the Palace of Holyroodhouse in the parish. He would also later serve as chaplain to a number of Edinburgh schools and edited some books for teenagers, such as Asking Them Questions. His social concern would also see him become actively involved in a wide range of activities in Edinburgh, including serving on the management of various institutions. He was an erudite man, the author of many books and he had a large personal library.

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