The Ministry of Rev Alex Willison
Alex Willison arrived in Dundonald as a young man of about 30 to assist the shortly thereafter, in 1841, became the Minister on the death of Dr Macleod. He was barely two years into the job when the church was hit with the Disruption and the resultant break away of the Free Church. This event was handled without acrimony in Dundonald and this may be partly to do with the style and attitude of Mr Willison. He certainly quickly became very popular with the members of the parish, particularly by his caring attitude to the poor.
Tradition tells us that he could farm the Glebe and the adjoining Craig Meadow so successfully that he could live without his stipend, which was diverted to help the poor. He also instituted collections for the unemployed of the parish, particularly the miners of Old Rome who were having a particularly difficult time.
His popularity is attested by the fact that, a few years after his arrival he was presented with a fine pulpit robe while his wife received a pair of silver candlesticks and a gold broach. The ladies also presented him with a bible inscribed “from the ladies of the parish” which is still kept in the church.
Never a healthy man Mr Willison died in 1865 when he was still in his fifties and his passing was greatly mourned throughout the parish. When he first came to the parish a local lady of some influence stirred up opposition to Mr Willison’s appointment. However, he quickly lived this down and at his death was one of the most respected ministers in the Presbytery.