(1907-13 April 1979), clergyman. Born in Cornwall Township. Parents: Roderick McPhail and his wife Mary Jane Chisholm. He taught school for a few years before attending seminary. He was ordained to the priesthood in June 1941 in Montreal. (Glengarry News 14 June 1941) For several years from 1941 he was interim pastor at Dickinson’s Landing, while Fr Ewan Macdonald was on army service. Fr McPhail was rector of St. Finnan’s Cathedral, Alexandria, from Jan. 1951 to 1965. While rector, he conducted a major renovation of the grounds of St. Finnan’s cemetery. From Jan. 1965 to Oct. 1970, he was pastor of Blessed Sacrament Parish, Cornwall. He was the founding pastor of this parish, and the new church and rectory were built during his pastorate.

     Fr McPhail was important for many years in the musical life of GC as a noted and much-admired violinist. Angus H. McDonell praised his work in promoting St. Andrew’s Day and Robbie Burns concerts in Alexandria. The Canadian Museum of Civilization has recordings which Fr McPhail made in 1959 of traditional songs sung by Joseph Chisholm, who was from the Island, west of Martintown. The GC favourite, “My Bonnie Native Glen” is included.

Glengarry News 18 April 1979 * The Story of St. Andrews West as Recorded on the Index Cards of Edwin McDonald, ed. Duncan MacDonald (1987) 81 *Villeneuve 183, 235, 282 * Macdonald, St. Finnan’s (has portrait) * Laing 25 (group portrait) * Angus H. McDonell on concerts: GN 9 Dec. 1981, 21 Nov. 1984, 16 Jan. 1985 * to Dickinson’s Landing, GN 31 Oct. 1941 * to St. Finnan’s, GN 19 Jan. 1951 * work on St. Finnan’s cemetery, GN 17 Dec. 1953 * to Cornwall, GN 21 & 28 Jan. 1965 * honorary member, Glengarry Strathspey and Reel Society, GN 12 April 1978 * inducted into Glengarry Celtic Music Hall of Fame (biog. sketch & portrait), GN 24 March 2004 * obituary of his sister, Mary Jane MacPhail, GN 9 Oct. 1996