by Mary Cullen

Vincent Logan, who was Bishop of the diocese of Dunkeld for almost 32 years before his retirement in June, 2012, died on 14th January. He was 79 and had been suffering from the effects of Covid-19.

Bishop Logan was born in Bathgate on 30th June 1941, one of four sons in a committed Catholic family. He went to St Mary’s College, Blairs and St Andrew’s College, Drygrange, and was ordained a priest in March 1964 by Archbishop Gordon Gray of St Andrews and Edinburgh. Archbishop Gray sent him to undertake further studies in catechetics at Corpus Christi College, London in 1966- 67, during the heady days of student unrest and the theological ferment of Vatican II. On his return to Edinburgh, Fr Logan was appointed archdiocesan advisor in Religious Education, where he led the development of the RE programme for Catholic children. He became Director of the RE Office in the archdiocese, and was Vicar Episcopal for Education from 1977-1981.

His collaboration with the religious of the Sacred Heart in Craiglockhart College of Education, especially his work with Mother McPherson, was a key factor in building up the skills of Catholic teachers at a time of Catholic expansion. Many teachers who went along to their well attended evening classes were inspired by their approach and the materials they produced. Hopes for the development of a national RE syllabus never materialised.

In 1981, at the age of 39, Fr Logan was ordained by his former bishop, now Cardinal Gray, as Bishop of Dunkeld. He was one of the youngest bishops in the church. He succeeded Bishop William Hart, who, after 26 years as bishop, was reluctant to hand over responsibility. Bishop Logan’s pastoral priorities continued to be education and pastoral development. He once said that such pastoral concerns are far more important to the bishops’ ministry than management of the institution.

His launched his pastoral programme with a rally led by Cardinal Suenens in 1981, in preparation for a diocesan congress held in the Caird Hall, Dundee, at Pentecost, 1985. Bishop Logan aimed to bring the people of God together - lay and ordained - to celebrate discipleship and ministry in the church. Following the congress, the diocese adopted the American pastoral renewal programme, Renew. Bishop Logan founded the diocesan newspaper, the Dunkeld News, and promoted involvement in local radio. He chaired the board of governors at St Andrew’s College of Education, Bearsden, from 1987-1991.

He was bishop of Dunkeld for almost 32 years, until his resignation in 2012 following illness and mobility problems. His successor, Bishop Steven Robson, said at his funeral that from his earliest days, Vincent Logan wanted to be a priest. He attended Mass with his mother and brothers after their dad went to work, and was a committed altar boy. His first attempt to put himself forward for the priesthood resulted in him ‘being chased’ by Canon Davitt, the parish priest, because he was too young - he was only eleven. But a year later, he went to Blairs, and his journey to the priesthood began in earnest.

Bishop Robson said: ‘On 26th February, Vincent Logan would have celebrated the 40th anniversary of his episcopal ordination and consecration. Forty years marks out in time a long pilgrimage with Jesus, as a shepherd of souls’.