Minister's Page
Rev. Murdo Marple
Murdo Marple was born in Inverness, Nova Scotia and grew up in the rural Celtic community of Scotsville, Cape Breton. His early education was in the two-room Scotsville School finishing his secondary education in the schools of the town of Inverness. His family church was East Lake Ainslie Presbyterian Church in Canada.
He graduated in 1968 from St. Francis Xavier University, Antigonish, Nova Scotia with a Bachelor of Science degree. His theological education took him to Knox College - the Toronto School of Theology. He graduated from Knox in 1971 with the degree of Bachelor of Divinity after which he did one year part-time graduate studies at the Toronto School of Theology. In May 1972, he was ordained to the ministry of Word and Sacrament.
He has had pastorates at Knox Presbyterian Church, Burlington, Ontario (part time while doing graduate studies); Hopewell Pastoral Charge in Pictou County Nova Scotia, (1972-1978); First Sackville Presbyterian Church; Lower Sackville, Nova Scotia (1978-1981); First Presbyterian Church, Stellarton, Nova Scotia (1981-1989); and Knox Presbyterian Church, Calgary (1989-present).
He continues to enjoy ministering at Knox, a congregation which he describes as:
-a wonderful eclectic group of committed Christians who respect their differences and are able to effectively minister together.
-a congregation which seeks to grow iin their commitment to God as they know God in Jesus Christ, and in their understanding of their faith.
-a congregation with a passion for justice for all and is not afraid to struggle with complex and challenging issues.
-a congregation which, while being quite traditional in many ways, strives to find ways to be open and welcoming to those who are much less tradtional.
-a congregation with a wonderful music ministry which, while maintaining a strong classical/traditional component, is now developing a less traditional component.
Ministry at Knox continues to be full of wonderful surprises and challenges for him.
Murdo has served the Presbyterian Church in Canada beyond the congregational level. At the Presbytery (local) level he has served as moderator and clerk as well as on many presbytery committees. At the Synod (regional) level he has served as moderator as well as on several committees. At the national level he has served on a Rural Ministry Consultation, the Senate of Knox College and the Assembly Council.
He has always had a strong commitment to the ecumenical ministry of the Church, being involved in local ecumenical groups wherever he has ministered. He served for many years as one of the Presbyterian representatives on the Calgary Council of Churches as well as on the Executive of the Atlantic Ecumenical Council. His Ecumenical involvement gave him the opportunity to be a part of the Nova Scotia planning committee for Pope John Paul II's 1984 visit to Canada. More recently he has become involved in Interfaith activities and presently serves as a Presbyterian representative on the Calgary Muslim-Christian Dialogue.
Murdo is married to Marie (Ingraham) who is also from Nova Scotia and is a Registered Nurse presently working as a clinical consultant.