Rev Ranald Rankin was born in Fort William in 1799. His father was of Glencoe people while his mother was a MacDonell of Brae Lochaber stock. He became famous as the composer of the beautiful Christmas Hymn "Taladh Chriosda" which was translated from his original Gaelic into "The Christ Child Lullaby"
He worked as a priest in Moidart, Lochaber and Badenoch, before leaving in 1855 to minister to many of his previous flock who had already emigrated to Australia. They had petitioned the Church to send them a Gaelic-speaking priest.
An article written about his life as recorded in an Australian magazine can be downloaded below
