Alison Elliot facts for kids

Alison Elliot was born on November 27, 1948. She is a respected academic and church leader from Scotland. She is famous for being the first woman to become the Moderator of the General Assembly of the Church of Scotland. This is a very important leadership role. She was also the first person who was not a minister to hold this job since 1567!

Early Life and Learning

Alison Elliot was born in Edinburgh, Scotland, in 1948. She went to school at Bathgate Academy. Later, she studied at two universities: the University of Edinburgh and the University of Sussex.

Her Work and Achievements

Alison Elliot's main job is in psychology, which is the study of the mind. She taught psychology at the University of Lancaster and the University of Edinburgh. She also wrote two books: Child Language (1981) and The Miraculous Everyday (2005).

She is well-known for her important work with the church.

• From 1996 to 2000, she led the Church and Nation Committee.
• She was also a session clerk at Greyfriars Kirk in Edinburgh.
• She helped build good relationships between different Christian churches. This is called ecumenical relations.
• In 2004, she made history by becoming the first woman to be elected Moderator of the General Assembly of the Church of Scotland.
• She received an award called the OBE for her work bringing churches together.

In 2016, Alison Elliot received a special award. It was the Scottish Public Service Awards' Lifetime Achievement Award. She was only the third person ever to get this honor.

She also helps lead other important groups.

• She helped start the Palestine Festival of Literature.
• Since 2007, she has led the Scottish Council for Voluntary Organisations. This group helps charities in Scotland.
• In 2018, she became the General Secretary of The Royal Society of Edinburgh. This is a famous group that promotes learning and research. She has been a member since 2008.

Her Family

Alison Elliot is married to John Elliot. They live in Edinburgh and have two children.

Her Portrait

In 2004, the Scottish National Portrait Gallery asked an artist named Jennifer McRae to paint a picture of Alison Elliot.

See also

• General Assembly of the Church of Scotland
• List of moderators of the General Assembly of the Church of Scotland