Kirk’s own ‘Parachute Padre’ honoured at London event
Published on 9 April 2025 3 minutes read
A bestselling author and one of the stars of television's "Downton Abbey" will be joining forces to pay tribute to one of the Church of Scotland's most heroic past Moderators, Very Rev Dr Fraser McLuskey, chaplain to the war-time SAS.
Damien Lewis, author of a series of best-selling books about the Special Air Service and other military subjects, will be visiting Dr McLuskey's former charge of St Columba's Church in London as part of a series of events marking the 80th anniversary of the end of the Second World War in Europe.
"The Parachute Padre and the SAS", which will take place in St Columba's Church on Pont Street at 1.30pm on Sunday 11 May, will recount the exploits of Dr McLuskey as he served behind the lines with the elite unit during the liberation of North West Europe.
Dr McLuskey, who was exposed to the evils of Nazism at first hand as a student in pre-war Germany, was parachuted into occupied France, landing headfirst in a tree, and commandeered a Renault car to help him minister to his widely distributed flock in the 1st SAS regiment.
Awarded the Military Cross for his service with the regiment, following the end of hostilities Dr McLuskey travelled across Britain to visit the families of SAS men killed in action.
He was a former minister of New Kilpatrick Parish Church in Bearsden near Glasgow and went on to become Minister of St Columba's, serving as Moderator of the General Assembly from 1983 to 1984.
r McLuskey retired to Edinburgh where he died in 2005 at the age of 90.
SAS expert Mr LewisD, whose book "Churchill's Secret Warriors" inspired recent Guy Ritchie film "The Ministry of Ungentlemanly Warfare", will be joined by Scottish actor David Robb – Dr Clarkson in "Downton Abbey" – who will be reading Dr McLuskey's own words from his autobiography "Parachute Padre".
Free tickets for the event with Damien Lewis and David Robb can be reserved here.
The event will also be livestreamed for those unable to visit in person.
Earlier on Sunday, at 11am, St Columba's will also host a special VE Day Anniversary service.
The talk and service are among several events organised by Scots in London as part of the group's 80 anniversary VE Day celebrations.
They include a discussion on VE Day and its legacy on Tuesday 6 May by a panel including BBC diplomatic correspondent James Landale, former Foreign Minister and Secretary of State for Scotland Sir Malcolm Rifkind, historian Professor Lucy Noakes and theologian Very Rev Professor David Fergusson.
The event is taking place at London Scottish House, a former London Scottish Regiment Drill Hall, and tickets are available here.
Professor Fergusson is Dean of the Chapel Royal in Scotland, part of the monarch's household responsible for the spiritual needs of the sovereign and the Royal Family.
There are 10 chaplains to the King - Church of Scotland ministers - and each normally holds office until the age of 70.
The chaplains, along with a physician, a surgeon, an apothecary, a sculptor, an astronomer, an historiographer and some others form part of His Majesty's household.
The King is also served by two domestic Royal Chaplains, the ministers of Canongate Kirk in Edinburgh and Crathie Kirk near Balmoral Castle.
A reception for the London Scottish Regimental Association is being held at London Scottish House on Thursday 8 May, and the full-day Peace in Europe Conference, the opening event of the new Second World War Association, on Saturday 10 May.
