Peter Clarkson Matheson

Greetings~I am so sorry to reach out this way. I am writing from a publishing house in Oregon. We have three books in print by Peter Matheson and need to hear back from family on who to update the royalty agreements to. Thank you for your time.

From our first chance meeting in Tuebingen 60 years ago, through the Edinburgh “Dissembly” and years as colleagues in New College, only the warmest of memories. From shared election results wakes with Douglas and Elizabeth to your tribute at her funeral in Dunkeld. Ach! Your lovely mix of passion and humour. Sylvia and I send our warmest wishes to Heinke and family.

Dear Heinke and whanau Please accept the condolences of the Hancock clan and in particular Lyndall Hancock. We are so sad to hear of Peter's passing. He was such a wonderful man. Soft spoken but a radical, with a huge heart. Lyndall would have been at the funeral but she was in hosptital after an operation. She recalls meeting Peter when he was just 14 years old and they have been friends ever since. Now in her 95th year, she finds it hard to comprehend that he is gone from us. He is a huge loss. Lyndall told me that at least when she dies, she will see all her good friends again. Aroha to you all.

At the time of writing this (8pm290425) there have been 96 positive 'reactions' to my posting on the private site, Skye&LochalshMemories on Facebook on the 250425. It was a brief notice of dear Peter's passing, to which I added the post made by Theology at the University of Otago on 160425, regarding their loss of a friend and colleague. I have copied as an attachment here, a few comments posted on the SLM site, to highlight the warmth and fellowship of his relatives and friends for the wider family of Mathesons. Gus am bris an Latha. Comments on Peter M’s Fb SLM post250425 John MacLeod I am sad to read this news. In fact, Mr Matheson's father was raised in the Free Church - indeed, James was ordained as a Free Church minister, to the charge of Olrig (1936-42, resigning on becoming a chaplain in the war-time Forces) and HIS father, Rev. Norman Matheson (1876-1952) was originally a Free Presbyterian minister (Halkirk, Caithness, 1906-1920.) He was subsequently Free Church minister of Coigach; then Kilmorack and Strathglass (Beauly). Marion Ross We were related through his Kilmaluag ancestors. His great grandfather was a West coast missionary in Glendale (associated with the F P Church). Fay McDiarmid His father married John and I and even recruited me to run the youth fellowship for teenagers. We went to Carberry Towers for a weekend. I didn't know Peter but if he was anything like his father he would have been a wonderful person. Jessie Ann Macdonald His father was Minister in Portree during our Hostel days, lovely man. He became Moderator during that time as well. Finella MacKinnon Sad news. Such a lovely family. My forebears knew his in both Caithness and Skye. Sonia Bidwell my sympathy to Peter's family His father was both my minister in Dunvegan and a dear friend. Donnie Macdonald Top contributor His father was a lovely man. So was his brother who was headteacher at Fochabers. I played golf with him occasionally. My condolences to the family. Pauline Eggermont His father was a lovely man. May his son RIP.

I was on Rakiura with Ruth Thomson, daughter of Scott and Barbara Thomson while you were farewelling Peter. We were walking and talking of your long family association and friendship. We recalled meeting all of us on Quarantine Island to celebrate Scott and Barbara's Golden Wedding Anniversary. I particularly remember Peter's kindness and gentle manner more recently at our friend Jimmy's 50th birthday. Again, special peaceful Island associations. So many will miss him. None so much as you, Heinke and family. I send you heartfelt sympathy and wish you comfort and peace in your time of grief. Arohanui, Polly

My condolences to Heinke & family. I had the pleasure of Peter's delightful company on one blessed Sunday in Dunedin on 6th November 2022. The morning began with the 'Kirking o' the Tartan' service in Knox Presbyterian Church, a celebration retained here, of Scottish culture and history of garments. Then accompanied by many from the congregation, including two pastors, a party of us made our way to the North Cemetery, where Peter guided the ceremony to mark the Restoration of James Dunbar's neglected grave - an ex Portree School and Otago University classics scholar extraordinaire. This was the culmination of a 6 month long project managed and financed by a committee from the Isle of Skye, and enacted by the New Zealand part of the group of whom Peter was the principal agent, the 'mover & shaker' on the ground of the whole project. The day was wonderfully fine, the tuis sang, the piper played, and Peter ran the presentation masterfully in keeping with the tenor of the event. Rest in peace, Peter, your work is done.

I did not have the pleasure of meeting Peter in person, only through zoom discussions. We were dealing with matters connected with the Isle of Skye, of which he was fond. My colleagues and I send our sincere condolences to the near and extended family. May you all benefit from the Lord’s blessing. ‘Our God shall supply all your needs according to His riches in Glory’.

Ah dear Peter - with all the Iona Community I mourn your death and give thanks for your life. Your generous hosting of us in Dunedin and on Quarantine Island in 2023 brought our deep connections in community to life. Thank you for your broad and deep spirituality, for your commitment to community, for your generosity of spirit and home. With love to all the family. Ruth

Peter, in one of your sermons you spoke of the German peasant at the Reformation who read the Gospels in his native language for the first time, exclaiming, "What wonderful German Jesus speaks!" For me and for your many friends around the world, you spoke perfect Jesus and speak it still in our hearts and memories. From my student days in your class at New College to our correspondence in your final days in hospital, you radiated the radical Jesus of the Gospels, ever faithful, every hopeful, ever urging us onward, "Lots of things to do!" We hear you. We miss you. Love and condolences to Heinke and family.

Kia ora, Heinke, Katriona and Donald. Arohanui ki a koutou. I have very many memories of Peter out at St Martin's Island. Lots of stories and adventures. Haere ra Peter. Mary Cavanagh Peel Forest South Canterbury

Kia ora and Salam. I am going to miss your monthly emails checking on me, Peter. Your love to Palestine, your advocacy and your initiatives will continue guiding our way. I will keep you in my prayers and thoughts. May your soul rest in peace. Heinke, you know where I am, and I will stay in touch. My deepest condolences to you and to the family. The messages of peace will be carried all the way reminding us of Peter and what he used to stand for. Much love, Mai and family.

I never met Peter in person. But I emailed him after talking to his good friend Tom Scott, back in 2020. I've been kicking myself ever since that I hadn't done that decades ago. I had always known Peter's work on Müntzer, which makes it possible for me to teach the German Peasants' War in Oxford for students who have no German. I had known his work on Argula von Grumbach, and on sixteenth century German Reformation writing as a literary culture that he loved; and also the letters of Heinke's parents that Peter and Heinke published together. I had always thought of him as a kindred spirit, but for some reason I never thought of writing to him. I'm so glad I did; Peter was a marvellous correspondent and a generous friend. He read an early draft of my book on the German peasants' war and ticked me off for my treatment of Müntzer, and for not understanding Siegfried Bráuer; he was right of course. But he also gave me a powerful sense that he thought the book was good and that it was important to write it, and that helped me through a very difficult time. I knew I had him there, supporting me. Peter opened up so many things for me and I loved getting his poems, his reflections on nature, and hearing about what music he was listening to. And then I got to meet Catriona and Jürgen in Berlin. I had planned to come to New Zealand to finally meet Peter and Heinke in November. I was in Stolberg, where Müntzer was born, as Peter became very ill. I couldn't get into the church which was locked, but I was able to stand outside it, with its ossuary, and look up at the castle of the lords on the hill above the town, and below to the town hall and the busy streets once ruled by the counts, social class written into the landscape. There was beautiful spring birdsong. Along with all Peter's friends in Germany, including Marion Dammaschke, Thomas T Mueller and many more; and with Andy Drummond, Müntzer's biographer, we will be thinking of Peter in this 500th anniversary year. Thank you for livestreaming the service so that I could see the church and community that meant so much to him. I am missing a wonderful, inspiring friend and a warm presence in my life.