Rev Canon Donald Arthur Macdonald Allchin
1930-2010

Series: Donald Allchin (1930-2010)

The Reverend Canon Arthur Macdonald “Donald” Allchin was born on 20 April 1930 in Acton, London, the youngest of three sons of Frank Macdonald Allchin, a physician, and Louise Maude Allchin. He was educated at Westminster School and Christ Church, Oxford, where he studied modern history. In 1954, he entered Cuddesdon Theological College to train for the priesthood, completing a Bachelor of Letters (BLitt) degree in theology in 1956. Ordained in 1957, he served his curacy at St Mary Abbots, Kensington, in London.

In 1960, Allchin became librarian at Pusey House, Oxford, a center for Anglo-Catholic worship and spirituality. From 1967 to 1973, he was Warden of the Community of the Sisters of the Love of God, an Anglican contemplative community in Oxford. In 1973, he was appointed residentiary canon of Canterbury Cathedral, a position he held until 1987. During this time, he was actively involved in Anglican-Orthodox theological dialogue and served as an adviser to Archbishop Michael Ramsey on relations with the Eastern Orthodox Church.

In 1987, Allchin became program director of the St Theosevia Centre for Christian Spirituality in Oxford, a role he held until 1994. He was also an honorary professor at the University of Wales, Bangor, from 1992 until his death in 2010.

Allchin was a prolific writer and editor, with works including The Silent Rebellion (1958), The Rediscovery of Newman (1967), The Joy of All Creation (1984), and Threshold of Light (1986). He was deeply engaged in ecumenical work, particularly fostering relations between the Anglican and Orthodox traditions. He was a member of the Fellowship of Saint Alban and Saint Sergius, a society dedicated to promoting dialogue between Anglicans and Orthodox Christians.

Donald Allchin passed away on 23 December 2010 in Oxford, England, at the age of 80. A requiem mass was held in his memory at St Mary Magdalen’s Church, Oxford, on 12 January 2011, with the sermon delivered by Rowan Williams, then Archbishop of Canterbury.

Documents authored by Rev Canon Donald Arthur Macdonald Allchin