Rev Dr Margaret Rae McDonald Forrester (pictured above, left) has been awarded an Honorary Degree of Doctor of Divinity by the University of Edinburgh.
Dr Forrester said: "This is really an honour for everyone who was involved in that struggle and I accept it on their behalf too."
The 76 year old belonged to a group of women who, in 1967, petitioned the Church of Scotland's governing body to allow women to minister of Word and Sacrament.
Their campaign met fierce resistance and anger at the time but it prompted a landmark ruling by the Assembly the following year in favour of proposal.
The five other women who worked with Dr Forrester on the change to Kirk rules were Claude Barbour, Elizabeth Hewat, Mary Levison, Mary Weir and Sheila White.
Reflecting on those events, Dr Forrester said: "For me, it has always been a question of education. The words 'struggle' or 'fight' don't come easily for me.
"Education was key in understanding the Bible. I still have a sense of wonder and awe that I was caught up in God's plan for reform of the Church.
"There were great women and great men involved in this reform. Ultimately, it was men who voted for this."
Dr Alison Elliot, the first female Moderator of the General Assembly said: "Margaret is a woman of great stature within the Church of Scotland.
"Her courageous leadership, pastoral sensitivity and manifest integrity have made her a popular role model throughout the Kirk. Warm congratulations to her, and to The University of Edinburgh, for recognising her distinction with this degree."
The Church of Scotland was one of the first national churches to permit the ordination of women.
Ordained in the United Reformed Church in England, Dr Forrester was inducted by the Church of Scotland in 1980 to St Michael's Church in west Edinburgh. She was the first female parish minister in Edinburgh Presbytery.
She has also served in India and written fiction books for children.