Alexander MacMillan (hymnologist)

Alexander MacMillan (born October 19, 1864 in Edinburgh , † May 5, 1961 in Toronto ) was a Canadian Presbyterian pastor and hymnologist.

MacMillan graduated from the University of Edinburgh and was ordained pastor of the Presbyterian Church of Scotland upon graduation in 1887 . He then went to Canada and worked in Presbyterian and United Churches in Huron County and Mimico. In 1893 he became a member of the committee for the preparation of the Presbyterian Book of Praise , which appeared in 1904. With WS Milner he published the University Hymn Book in 1912 .

In 1914 MacMillan became secretary of the Committee on Church Praise . He gave lectures in hymnology and church music at theological colleges and in 1918 published the Book of Praise . On the Ukrainian Book of Praise , published in 1922, he was involved as co-editor. After the unification of the Presbyterian, Methodist and Congragationalist Churches in Canada in 1925, he became secretary of the Committee on Church Worship and Ritual of the United Church of Canada .

He published the Hymnary of the United Church of Canada in 1931 and wrote the Stories of Our Hymns (1930) and Hymns of the Church (1935, 1965). MacMillan had four children. His son Ernest MacMillan became known as a composer. The daughter Winifred was married to the conductor Ettore Mazzoleni and performed as a pianist in a duo with Kathleen Irwin . A collection of autobiographical texts from 1940 to 1945 appeared in 1988 under the title Looking back: reminiscences of the Rev. Alexander MacMillan, DD, Mus. D., 1864-1961 .

swell

• Alexander MacMillan ( English, French ) In: Encyclopedia of Music in Canada . published by The Canadian Encyclopedia .
• hymnary.org - Alexander MacMillan