Eternal rest grant unto them, O Lord, and let perpetual light shine upon them. May the souls of the faithful departed, through the mercy of God, rest in peace. Amen.

Father David Gemmell was born in 1953, on the eve of the first ascent of Everest. He was one of nine children in a Fife coal mining family. His family was always of supreme importance to him and there is no doubt that his early experience of love and community in the large Gemmell household played a crucial part in the formation of the man he became – a man who was completely at ease with everybody and anybody.

He was ordained in 1978 and throughout his 30 years as a priest his commitment to his vocation was unshakable and inspirational. He was a curate in St Kentigern’s, Edinburgh, before going on to teach in Gillis College Seminary. There he took the role of Pastoral Director and, later, held the same post at Scotus College, our national seminary. In 1997 he was appointed Administrator of St Mary’s Cathedral, Edinburgh, and in 2003 he became a Monsignor. As a priest he gave of his love and energy in the service of others with almost reckless generosity, inspiring faith and love in those he touched.

In spite of his considerable responsibilities, Father David sustained a remarkable range of interests from art and the theatre (he gained a Master of Theology degree from Edinburgh University for his dissertation on the role of theatre in the Church) to fishing and Celtic Football Club. It was characteristic that his sudden death occurred when he was in Barcelona to support Celtic in the Champions’ League. He travelled widely in Europe, North America, El Salvador, Mexico, Nepal, Vietnam and China.

Father David’s defining characteristics related to his humanity and in particular to his amazing warmth, sensitivity and empathy. To see the love in his brown eyes and be enfolded in his unrestrained bear hug was a priceless gift that David bestowed on countless hundreds. The love that David gave was returned in abundance as was reflected by the congregation who packed St Mary’s Cathedral an hour before the start of his funeral mass and the hundreds who stood for hours outside in the cold.