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In Memoriam: The Rev. Dr. David Haxton Carswell Read

Dr. David H.C. Read, who was Senior Minister of Madison Avenue Presbyterian Church from 1956 until his retirement at the end of 1989, died at home on January 7, 2001, five days after celebrating his 91st birthday.

Dr. Read's 63 years of joyous ministry as a world-renowned preacher, scholar, author and ecumenist were characterized by extraordinary wisdom and eloquence, humor, fidelity to the Bible and a sturdy faith in the gospel and grace of Jesus Christ. Believing with Karl Barth that the preacher should stand with the Bible in one hand and the morning newspaper in the other, his sermons, which might include quotes from Humpty Dumpty or Samuel Johnson, Shakespeare, Alice in Wonderland or James Bond - and once a year were preached in rhyme as "Christmas Tales for All Ages," much loved and eagerly awaited by the congregation - were always designed to help his listeners use Biblical perspectives to wrestle with contemporary issues and problems.

While serving as Senior Minister of MAPC, Dr. Read was also a National Radio Pulpit preacher for 25 years and had his own weekly Sunday program on WOR-AM radio entitled, "Thinking it Over" from 1981-1989. He was founding Vice-President and leader of the Appeal of Conscience Foundation, an interfaith organization dedicated to fostering religious freedom and understanding throughout the world. Always a strong voice of conscience and compassion, he made lasting contributions on the foundation's missions to Northern Ireland and behind the Iron Curtain in pursuit of justice, peace and tolerance.

Over the years, Dr. Read authored more than 30 books, the first of which was published in 1936, the last a work in progress at the time of his death. He also wrote numerous articles for religious publication, held many lectureships throughout the world and received nine honorary degrees. In 1991, he became a co-founder of The Living Pulpit, a quarterly journal whose purpose is to help Protestant, Catholic and Jewish clergy in their preaching, and served as its Editor-in-Chief for several years.

Born in Cupar, Fife, Scotland, Dr. Read was educated at the University of Edinburgh, pursued further studies at Montpellier, Strasbourg, Paris and Marburg, and received a B.D. from New College, Edinburgh.

Ordained in 1936, Dr. Read served for three years as Minister of Coldstream West, Church of Scotland, where he also became a reserve Chaplain in the British Army. In 1939, he was called to be Minister of the Greenbank Church of Scotland, in Edinburgh, which he served from his installation in March of 1940 until 1949. In 1939, just after receiving the appointment to the Greenbank Church, he was called to active duty and became Chaplain to the Forces in the 51st Highland Division. It was with those forces that he was captured by the Germans at St.-Valery-en-Caux, Normandy, France and spent the rest of the war years (June 1940 - April 1945) as a Prisoner of War in various prison camps. After the war, he returned to Greenbank Parish Church until being named the first Chaplain at the University of Edinburgh (1949-1955). In 1952, he was also appointed Chaplain to Her Majesty the Queen in Scotland (1952-1955).

Dr. Read is survived by his wife Pat Gilbert-Read whom he married in 1936, their son Rory, and his brother, Robert, 93, of Edinburgh, Scotland, and two nephews, Douglas Read and Neil Read.

Please see also The David H.C. Read Memorial Chapel

 

 

 

 

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