Reverend Matthew Rodger, Church of Scotland minister at Ellon for 21 years and latterly a supply minister at Pitlochry, has died aged 87.
He had a career in industry, including as a company director, before training for the ministry in the 1970s.
Matthew was also a qualified SFA referee who officiated at matches in the old First Division and then in the Highland League.
He served as president of Ayrshire Referees Association and was made a life member of Aberdeen Referees Association.
Six years after retiring, he moved from Ellon to Westhill and then in 2021, to Alyth where a service of thanksgiving to mourn his passing was held.
Education
Matthew Rodger was born in 1936 and grew up in Glasgow where he attended Netherlee Primary School and Queen’s Park Secondary School.
His involvement with the church began through The Boys’ Brigade and Netherlee Parish Church. He was a member of the 278th Glasgow company where he was awarded the Queen’s Badge, the movement’s highest honour.
Matthew was very active in sports, was a member of Williamwood Golf Club and achieved a handicap of two.
He began his working life in 1954 as an accountant and in 1959 joined Ayrshire Wireless in Kilmarnock moving on to become company secretary and then a director.
In 1961 he married May and the couple had three children: Elaine, Alastair and Graeme.
He was a Rangers season ticket holder in the 1950s and then a Kilmarnock season ticket holder in the 1960s.
Top-level football
In the early 1970s he became a football referee and linesman, taking charge of Scottish games at the highest level.
When the old First Division became the Premier League, Matthew would run the line at top-flight games.
In 1972, he moved to the housing charity, Christian Action, before beginning divinity studies at Glasgow University.
As a student minister, he was attached to the Presbytery of Irvine and Kilmarnock and completed his ministerial apprenticeship across several churches in Kilmarnock including St Marnock’s, St Ninian’s and St Andrew’s North Church.
He was ordained and inducted as a minister at Ellon Parish Church in January 1978 serving its members, the parish and the wider community for more than 20 years until his retirement in 1999.
Matthew was also chairman of multiple school boards, refereed school football and ran chess clubs.
Wide church remit
He supported the Church of Scotland more widely, convening its pensions committee, and leading special commissions including the inquiry into the closure of Ryehill House, Dundee.
Recognition of his work culminated in him being shortlisted in 2000 for the role of Moderator of the General Assembly of the Church of Scotland.
Matthew was predeceased by May in 1998 and, in 2005, married Eunice, becoming stepfather to Ruth, Catriona and Jacquelyn.
A Rotarian for 22 years, first in Ellon and then in Westhill, he received the Paul Harris award, the organisation’s top accolade for his work with school chess clubs.
He also enjoyed being part of The Club of Deir, a Mintlaw-based dinner and speakers’ club.
Pulpit supply
In retirement he provided pulpit supply and carried out pastoral duties across different parishes including Methlick, and a spell at St Columba’s in Knightsbridge, London.
After his move to Alyth, Matthew continued to preach and provide pastoral care across different parishes, latterly Pitlochry, until weeks before his death.
A service of thanksgiving took place at Alyth Parish Church on Friday March 1. The service was conducted by Mike Erskine who had been an associate minister at Ellon during part of Matthew’s tenure there.
A private burial took place at Ellon on Monday March 4.
You can read the family’s announcement here.
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