Kirk minister; Born September 26, 1915; Died January 1, 2008.

The Rev Matthew Liddell, who has died aged 93, was a former chaplain to the Glasgow Fire Brigade and was with the fire-fighters at the Cheapside Street disaster of 1960 in which 19 men died. It was an experience he never forgot.

Born in Glasgow, he was educated at Hillhead High School before progressing to Glasgow University where he earned an MA (Hons) in Classics, followed by Trinity College, Glasgow. He entered the ministry of the Church of Scotland in 1940.

His first position was as assistant minister at Rawyards Church, Airdrie. In 1943, he moved to the little country church of Terregles in Kirkcudbright; then in 1948 to Trinity Church in Larkhall, Lanarkshire; and, finally, in 1958 to St Paul's (Outer High) and St David's (Ramshorn) in Glasgow until retirement in 1982.

The Ramshorn Kirk, in Ingram Street, had been badly affected by slum clearance and population movement out of the city centre, but he fostered and encouraged the loyalty of its members with friendly, loving examples of Christian leadership and service, such that the church survived as an active congregation long after many had been demolished for office or housing development or converted for other uses.

The morning service was always followed by tea and biscuits in the church hall, where the city centre "emigres", now spread all over Glasgow suburbs and beyond, would meet.

He was an enthusiastic participant in the ecumenical movement in Glasgow, at times experiencing the wrath of opponents at services and rallies in George Square and elsewhere, all of which he bore with wry amusement.

Throughout his time in Glasgow, Liddell was chaplain to the fire service. He was also chaplain to the Royal Maternity Hospital at Rottenrow, was on the panel of ministers who assisted at each opening of the High Court in Glasgow, and was involved for many years in the administration of the Lodging House Mission. He was appointed Moderator of the Presbytery of Glasgow in 1977, a position in which he served with distinction.

A quiet, committed Christian and family man, he was also a good, old-fashioned visiting minister who saw his pastoral duties as far and away the most important part of his vocation, spending long hours visiting the sick and elderly at home or in hospital.

He was latterly living with his daughter in Chigwell. He became ill in the night after Christmas Day, dying on New Year's Day.

Happily married for almost 60 years to Eileen, until her death five years ago, he is survived by his three children and their families.