Scottish Catholic Observer

Fr Thompson was an MP before coming to the priesthood late in life and his funeral will take place in St Teresa’s, Dumfries, at 11am on Friday January 6.

“Fr George Thompson was a man whose life was inspired and motivated by a deep faith in Jesus Christ,” Bishop Nolan said. “A Faith he put into practice by embracing three vocations: teaching, politics and the priesthood. In each of these he sought to serve God and to serve others. We give thanks to God for all the good that he did throughout his life.”

“The people of Galloway have been blessed by his commitment to public service, but as Bishop of Galloway I am particularly grateful to him for his years of service as a priest,” the bishop continued. “We commend Fr George Thompson in our prayers to the loving mercy of God. May he rest in peace.”

George Thompson was elected as the SNP MP for Galloway in the October 1974 General Election before losing the seat in 1979 to the Conservative candidate Ian Lang. He was ordained a priest for Galloway Diocese in St Teresa’s, Dumfries, in 1989. He served as assistant in St Teresa’s, as parish priest in St Margaret of Scotland in Irvine, and as parish priest in St Peter’s, Dalbeattie. He retired in 2005.

Born in Glenkens, Fr Thompson lived with his parents and younger brother in a gamekeeper’s cottage. He spent two years in the forces after leaving school then went to Rome to study for the priesthood. In 1954, his father died and George returned from Rome to support his mother who died in 1973. He worked for the Forestry Commission for seven years, continuing his studies at the same time, and eventually qualified as a teacher having studied at Edinburgh University.

This led to a teaching post in Kirkcudbright Academy where he taught French and German. He was an active member of the Scottish National Party and was elected as the SNP MP for Galloway in 1974. After losing his seat in 1979, he returned to teaching and then to seminary, and was ordained a priest for Galloway Diocese in St Teresa’s in 1989.

Former First Minister Alex Salmond paid tribute to the late priest saying he was ‘an outstanding member of parliament and a real gentleman.’

“I had the privilege of attending his ordination as a priest in the late 80s, 30 years after he had first attended the Scots college,” he recalled. “The bishop said he was being called not at the 11th hour but at five minutes to midnight! He will be missed by all who value decency in life and politics.”

—This story ran in full in the January 6 edition print of the SCO, available in parishes.