[2] He was educated at Madras College secondary school in St Andrews, Fife.
[3] He married and his wife Margaret Forrester was ordained[4] and became a writer for children.
After founding the Centre for Theology and Public Issues (CTPI) in 1984,[6] his work increasingly emphasized the intersection between theology and politics, with special reference to Scotland, the United Kingdom, and Europe.
He stepped down from the directorship of CTPI in 2000, succeeded by William Storrar.
[6][7] He also published historical studies of Christian worship in Scotland.