Obituary for The Reverend Charles Allan MacMillan
The Reverend Charles Allan MacMillan
January 15, 1946 ̶ November 6, 2021
On November 6, 2021 The Reverend Allan MacMillan (affectionately known as “Pastor Al”) passed away peacefully at home surrounded by his family at the age of 75. His wife of 54 years, Goldie, his sons Scott (Alisia) MacMillan and Cam (Chandra) MacMillan, his daughter Heather-Joy (Shawn) Batten, and 7 grandchildren, A.B., Charlotte, Jeslyn, Matthew, Merryn, Declan, and Maisie have been fully loved unconditionally by their husband, father, and cherished Papa each and every day he was in their lives. The dear son of the late Kenneth MacMillan and the late Myrtle MacMillan, and dear brother of Clair (Donna) MacMillan, David (Kathy) MacMillan, Barbara MacMillan, George (Diane) MacMillan, and the late Roberta (Harry) Handler, is also survived by a great many loving nieces, nephews, family, and friends.
Born in Bass River, Nova Scotia, Allan grew up in Summerside, PEI until the age of 10 when his family moved to Ottawa, Ontario. Allan studied at Eastern Nazarene College (Massachusetts) and Olivet Nazarene University (Illinois) before meeting Goldie. They then married and began their incredible life together, after which Allan obtained a Master of Arts in Political Science from Carleton University (Ottawa). He worked for 22 years on Parliament Hill, first as a speech writer, then as an indexer/analyst, and served for more than two decades as the chaplain for the Ottawa Rough Riders. Allan founded the Bridlewood Community Church of the Nazarene in 1983 where he served as founding pastor for 28 years and the Bridlewood Child Learning Centre in 1987, both of which continue to serve the spiritual and childcare needs of families in Ottawa’s West End. He continued his service well into retirement, writing and publishing his first book The Assassination of the Reputation of God in 2020, within which he shared the same message he lived throughout his life – that “Jesus was, and is, about an ever-expanding love…that Jesus welcomes everyone at His table…[and] that Jesus asks the same of [us]…that [we] turn the stranger into family”.
Grief and sadness are outweighed only by the incredibly joyful memories and the legacy of grace, love, and compassion that Pastor Al built throughout his life and work as a pastor, chaplain, and leader in Bridlewood, Kanata, the City of Ottawa, and beyond.
A private family service will be followed by interment at Highland Park Cemetery. A recording of the service will be made available later on this website. The family will plan a public memorial service for the spring of 2022 with details to be announced later.
If you so choose, donations to Nazarene Compassionate Ministries (www.ncmcanada.ca) would be gratefully appreciated.
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January 15, 1946 ̶ November 6, 2021
On November 6, 2021 The Reverend Allan MacMillan (affectionately known as “Pastor Al”) passed away peacefully at home surrounded by his family at the age of 75. His wife of 54 years, Goldie, his sons Scott (Alisia) MacMillan and Cam (Chandra) MacMillan, his daughter Heather-Joy (Shawn) Batten, and 7 grandchildren, A.B., Charlotte, Jeslyn, Matthew, Merryn, Declan, and Maisie have been fully loved unconditionally by their husband, father, and cherished Papa each and every day he was in their lives. The dear son of the late Kenneth MacMillan and the late Myrtle MacMillan, and dear brother of Clair (Donna) MacMillan, David (Kathy) MacMillan, Barbara MacMillan, George (Diane) MacMillan, and the late Roberta (Harry) Handler, is also survived by a great many loving nieces, nephews, family, and friends.
Born in Bass River, Nova Scotia, Allan grew up in Summerside, PEI until the age of 10 when his family moved to Ottawa, Ontario. Allan studied at Eastern Nazarene College (Massachusetts) and Olivet Nazarene University (Illinois) before meeting Goldie. They then married and began their incredible life together, after which Allan obtained a Master of Arts in Political Science from Carleton University (Ottawa). He worked for 22 years on Parliament Hill, first as a speech writer, then as an indexer/analyst, and served for more than two decades as the chaplain for the Ottawa Rough Riders. Allan founded the Bridlewood Community Church of the Nazarene in 1983 where he served as founding pastor for 28 years and the Bridlewood Child Learning Centre in 1987, both of which continue to serve the spiritual and childcare needs of families in Ottawa’s West End. He continued his service well into retirement, writing and publishing his first book The Assassination of the Reputation of God in 2020, within which he shared the same message he lived throughout his life – that “Jesus was, and is, about an ever-expanding love…that Jesus welcomes everyone at His table…[and] that Jesus asks the same of [us]…that [we] turn the stranger into family”.
Grief and sadness are outweighed only by the incredibly joyful memories and the legacy of grace, love, and compassion that Pastor Al built throughout his life and work as a pastor, chaplain, and leader in Bridlewood, Kanata, the City of Ottawa, and beyond.
A private family service will be followed by interment at Highland Park Cemetery. A recording of the service will be made available later on this website. The family will plan a public memorial service for the spring of 2022 with details to be announced later.
If you so choose, donations to Nazarene Compassionate Ministries (www.ncmcanada.ca) would be gratefully appreciated.