UF Fasti: Introduction

THE FASTI OF THE

UNITED FREE CHURCH

OF SCOTLAND

1900-1929

FOREWORD

 
 
The publication of this volume marks the completion of a project which has long been delayed. Records of the United Presbyterian Church and of the Free Church prior to 1900 had been carefully compiled, the former by the Rev. Robert Small in his History of the Congregations of the United Presbyterian Church, and the latter by the Rev. Dr William Ewing in his Annals of the Free Church of Scotland, but when the larger Union of the Scottish Churches took place in 1929, it was recognized that there was no similar historical record of the ministers and congregations of the United Free Church, 1900 to 1929. During the following decade, thanks to the enterprise and enthusiasm of certain individual ministers, notably the late Rev. Dr W. J. Couper, Glasgow, aided by the voluntary efforts of Assembly, Synod, and Presbytery Clerks, a large amount of interesting information was gathered preparatory to the compilation of the Fasti. But the information was incomplete and unco-ordinated; there were many serious gaps in the records; and the passage of time made it the more difficult to recover many things that had been lost.

In 1939 the General Assembly approved of the appointment of a U.F.C. Fasti Committee to take the whole matter under its care and direction, to examine the material when it should be collected, and to take further necessary steps towards the preparation and publication of the Fasti. Unfortunately with the outbreak of war, with all the dislocations and interruptions and restrictions imposed by war conditions, the Committee found it impossible to organize the task of research, and another decade passed before it could report any real progress. In the meantime a further approach had been made to Presbytery Clerks, fresh schedules were issued seeking information where that was lacking, and a serious attempt had begun to be made to collate and coordinate the scattered material. Now at long last the task is finished, and the Committee can report that it has fulfilled its remit.

The Committee wish to make grateful acknowledgment of the fact that nearly all Presbytery Clerks who were approached, and other interested servants of the Church, ministers and laymen, did valuable work in searching out historical and biographical details. Where so many are deserving of thanks it would be invidious to select names for special mention, but it is right and proper that a special word of thanks should be given to the Rev. Dr John A. Lamb, Librarian, New College, Edinburgh, who for the past four years has acted as Editor of the Fasti. The labour and research which he has put into the collection and compilation of the material and its final preparation for the press, are worthy of all praise, and deserve the thanks of the whole church. The Committee must also express sincere thanks to the Carnegie Trust for their generous contribution towards the expense of publishing this volume.

A. Irvine Pirie, D.D.
Convener, U.F.C. Fasti Committee
 
 
 

EDITOR’S NOTE

 
 
Reference is made as regards both congregations and ministers in the list in 1900, to the works of Ewing and Small. So far as Ewing is concerned, unless additional information about details and events prior to 1900 has been found, the facts stated in Ewing are not generally repeated, other than the date of induction to the charge concerned. As Small does not gather together in one place details regarding ministers, this has been done in the present volume.

Attention is drawn to the Index of Ministers, where the page references are given. The entry which is most complete for any individual is indicated by the page number in italics, and is found under the last charge held in the period. Where two or more ministers had the same name, they are distinguished by the date of ordination, shown in brackets.

It should also be noted that where “Presb.” (for Presbytery) occurs without qualification, the reference is to a Presbytery of the U.F. Church. Other denominations are always named.

Though the work is a list of ordained ministers, a number of ordained missionaries are included where information has been obtained, and their names are in italics.
 
 
 

ABBREVIATIONS

CONTENTS

SYNOD OF LOTHIAN