The Northern Times - March 22nd 1900.

The Late Rev Cathel Kerr M.A.

Quite a gloom has been cast over the whole North Coast of Sutherland by the sad news of the death in South Africa of the Rev. Cathel Kerr, the young and respected Free Church Minister of Melness. He was sent out recently by the Highland Committee of his church to act as chaplain to the Highland Brigade, many of whom are adherents of the Free Church from the Gaelic speaking districts of the Highlands and Islands.

Mr Kerr’s ready command of both languages, together with his ardent desire to serve his Master’s and his country’s cause in the hour and place of danger, commended him as admirably suited for the work, and his sudden death at Kimberly by Typhoid fever on Sabbath, the 11th last, sent a thrill of profound sorrow through the whole county. The deceased was a native of Farr, Sutherland, where his sorrowing parents still reside. He received his elementary training at the Public School there, and prosecuted his secondary studies in Raining’s School, Inverness and at Aberdeen Grammar School.

After a successful career at the University of Aberdeen, where he duly graduated, he entered the Free Church Divinity Hall of that Town, and completed his Theological Studies. At a very early stage of his career he took part in Christian work, and gave decided promise of future usefulness while labouring as a student-missionary in Harris and latterly at Nairn and Queen Street Church Inverness.

Of Gentlemanly appearance, affable manners, and obliging disposition, Mr Kerr made warm friends wherever his lot was cast. When the congregation of Melness called him to the pastorate five years ago a ministry was begun which gave every promise of future prosperity. Nor was this promise belied. Mr Kerr threw himself into the work with the utmost energy, and lost no time in making himself acquainted with every family in this extensive and double charge. In addition to the ordinary duties of a pastor he was obliged to undertake the renovation of the ecclesiastical building – a work of peculiarly trying nature in poor rural districts of the Highlands.

The magnitude of the work, however, did not discourage him, although it necessitated his frequent absence from home; and he had the satisfaction of seeing the manse repaired and a new and commodious church not only begun, but well advanced towards completion ere he left for South Africa.

A native of Reay Country himself it was natural that his sympathies should be enlisted in behalf of the material as well as the spiritual welfare of the people among whom he laboured. He was a member of the Tongue Parish Council, of the School Board, and latterly of the County Council. Into the work of those bodies he threw himself with characteristic energy, and the movement to re-people Strathnaver was largely due to his fervent advocacy. There is something truly pathetic and mysterious in the early removal of a young man whose life was one of many-sided activities; but brief as his career has been, it has left behind it stimulating memories of a bright and busy Christian character, the fragrance of which will linger long among his sorrowing congregation. In 1885 he married the eldest daughter of Rev. D Mackenzie. F.C. Minister Farr. For whom and her two young children the deepest sympathy is felt.