The Principal Clerk, and former Moderator of the General Assembly of the Church of Scotland, the Very Rev Dr John Chalmers, has been awarded an Honorary Doctorate in Divinity by the University of Aberdeen.

The honour was in recognition of Dr Chalmers’ work in encouraging the church to be an instrument of healing and reconciliation. During his Moderatorial year, which coincided with the referendum on Scottish independence, he led the calls for ‘respectful dialogue’ between the parties in the debate.

At the ceremony in November, Dr Chalmers wore robes gifted by another former Moderator, the Very Rev Dr James Simpson; and the Doctorate was conferred by the Very Rev Professor Iain Torrance, Pro-Chancellor of the University of Aberdeen, who has also held the role.