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List of Moderators of the General Assembly of the Church of Scotland is a complete list of
Moderators of the General Assembly of the
Church of Scotland from the
Reformation to the present day. The location of the
parish or other post during the Moderator's year in office is listed in brackets.
Since 1714 the
General Assembly has normally been held annually every May. Moderators-designate are nominated in the October of the previous year; a formal vote is taken at start of the General Assembly in May, then the new Moderator takes the chair. They holds office for one year; their final act is to formally open the following year's General Assembly and preside over the formal election of a successor.
The Moderator of the current year, while serving their term as Moderator, is styled "The
Right Reverend " , while past Moderators are styled "The
Very Reverend " .
[1]
16th century
1562 (June) and 1568 (Dec)
John Knox (Edinburgh)
1563 (Dec.) , 1564 (June) and 1568 (July)
John Willock (Superintendent of the West)
1564 (Dec.), 1565 (Dec.), 1566 (June and Dec) and 1572 (Aug)
John Erskine of Dun (Superintendent of
Angus and
Mearns )
1567 (June)
George Buchanan (Principal,
St Leonard's College ,
University of St Andrews )
1567 (July and Dec.), 1576 (April), 1578 (June)
John Row (
St Johnstoun )
1569 (Feb.) , 1577 (Oct.) , 1582 (October) , 1586 (May) , 1593 (April) and 1597 (March)
David Lindsay (
Leith )
1569 (July)
William Christison (St Mary's Church,
Dundee )
1570 (March) , 1576 (October) , 1581 (October)
John Craig (
Edinburgh )
1570 (July) , 1575 (August), 1581 (April) , 1583 (October) , 1595 (March) and 1597 (April)
Robert Pont (Edinburgh:
St Cuthbert's )
1571 (March)
George Hay (
Rathven )
1571 (August)
Gilbert Garden (
Fordyce )
[2]
1572 (March)
Robert Hamilton (
St Andrews ) (note: Scott says March 1571)
1573 (March) and 1578 (October)
David Ferguson (
Dunfermline )
1573 (August) and 1577 (April)
Alexander Arbuthnot (Principal of
King's College, Aberdeen )
1574 (March) and 1580 (October)
Andrew Hay (
Renfrew )
1574 (August)
John Duncanson (Minister at the
King's House )
1575 (March)
James Boyd of Trochrig (
Archbishop of Glasgow )
1578 (April), 1582 (April and June), 1587 and 1594
Andrew Melville (Principal of
the College, Glasgow )
1579 (July) and 1583 (April)
Thomas Smeton (Minister at
Paisley , later
Principal of the University of Glasgow )
1580 (July)
James Lawson (Edinburgh)
1588 (Feb.) and 1592
Robert Bruce (Edinburgh)
1588 (Aug.)
Thomas Buchanan (
Ceres )
1589 (June) and 1590 (March)
James Melville (
Anstruther ,
Fife )
1590 (August) and 1602
Patrick Galloway (Minister at the King's House)
1591
Nicol Dalgleish (
Pittenweem )
1595 and 1606
James Nicolson (
Meigle , later
Bishop of Dunkeld )
1597 (March)
Peter Blackburn (
Aberdeen , later
Bishop of Aberdeen )
1597 (May)
Robert Rollock (Principal of
the College of Edinburgh )
1600
Robert Wilkie (Principal of
St Leonard's College, St Andrews )
17th century
No General Assembly until 1638
1638, 1641 and 1643
Alexander Henderson (
Leuchars , later Edinburgh)
1639, 1652 and (?)1653
David Dickson (
Irvine ,
Ayrshire )
1640
Andrew Ramsay (Edinburgh)
1642, 1645, 1647, 1649, 1651
Robert Douglas (Edinburgh)
1644
James Bonar (
Maybole , Ayrshire)
1646
Robert Blair (St Andrews)
1647
Robert Douglas (Edinburgh)
1648
George Gillespie (Edinburgh)
1650
Andrew Cant (Aberdeen)
1651
Robert Douglas
1652
Gabriel Cunningham (
Dunlop , Irvine) (or David Dickson?
[4] )
No General Assembly after 1653 until the restoration of
Presbyterianism in 1690. From 1662 to 1673
Walter Bruce of Inverkeithing was "Constant Moderator.
[5]
Patrick Sympson was Constant Moderator from an unknown date to Spring 1690.
[6] Gabriel Cunningham acted as Interim Moderator in 1690 (as though there had been no gap) until Kennedie was chosen to succeed him.
18th century
1701 and 1704
Thomas Wilkie (
Edinburgh: Canongate )
1702
David Williamson (Edinburgh: St Cuthbert's) aka "
Dainty Davie "
1703
George Meldrum , (Tron, Edinburgh)
1705, 1708, 1711 and 1715
William Carstares (Principal of the College of Edinburgh)
1706, 1713, 1718, 1724 and 1728
William Wishart (South Leith, later
Principal of the College of Edinburgh)
1707
John Stirling (
Principal of the University of Glasgow )
1709
John Currie (
Haddington )
[7]
[8]
1710, 1714, 1717, 1722 and 1726
William Mitchell (Edinburgh: High Church)- the first Second Charge to become Moderator
1712, 1716, 1720, 1727 and 1730
William Hamilton (Professor of Divinity, later
Principal of the University of Edinburgh )
1719
James Grierson (Second Charge in Edinburgh: Trinity College Church)
1721
Thomas Black (St John's Church, Perth)
1723 and 1731
James Smith (Cramond; later
Principal of the University of Edinburgh )
1725 and 1729
James Alston (
Dirleton )
1732 and 1737
Neil Campbell (
Principal of the University of Glasgow )
1733
John Gowdie (Edinburgh: New North, also
Principal of the University of Edinburgh )
1734
James Gordon (
Alford )
1735
Alexander Anderson (St Andrews)
1738 and 1741
James Ramsay (Kelso)
1739
James Bannatine (Edinburgh: Trinity College Church)
1740
George Logan (Edinburgh: Trinity College Church)
1742
Thomas Tullideph (Principal, St Leonard's College, St Andrews)
1743
Robert Wallace (Edinburgh: New North)
1744
John Adams (
Falkirk )
1745
William Wishart (Principal (Secundus) of the
University of Edinburgh )
1746
John Lumsden of Auchinleck (Professor of Divinity,
King's College, Aberdeen )
1747
Robert Kinloch (Edinburgh: High Church)
1748
George Wishart (Edinburgh: Tron Church)
1749, 1752 and 1756
Patrick Cumin (Edinburgh: Old Church, also Professor of Church History)
1750
Robert Patoun (Renfrew)
1751
James Mackie (St Ninians, Stirling)
1753
Alexander Webster (Edinburgh: Tolbooth)
1754 and 1760
Robert Hamilton (Professor of Divinity, Edinburgh) and minister of Old
Greyfriars Kirk
1755
George Reid (St Quivox)
1757
William Leechman (Professor of Divinity, later Principal of the University of Glasgow)
1758
Thomas Turnbull (Borthwick)
1760
George Kay (
Edinburgh: Old Greyfriars' )
1761
John Hyndman (
Lady Yester's Church ) note - Scott does not record this moderatorship
[3]
1762
Robert Trail (Professor of Divinity, University of Glasgow)
1763
William Robertson (
Edinburgh: Old Greyfriars , also
Principal of the University of Edinburgh )
1764
Alexander Gerard (Professor of Theology,
Marischal College, Aberdeen )
1765
James Oswald (Methven)
1766
John Hamilton (Glasgow: St Mungo's High Church)
1767
James Murison (Principal of the New College, University of St Andrews)
1768
Gilbert Hamilton (
Cramond , near Edinburgh)
1769
James MacKnight (Maybole)
1770
Alexander Carlyle (
Inveresk )
1771
Robert Walker (Edinburgh: The High Kirk)
1772
Adam Fergusson (
Moulin )
1773 and 1784
John Drysdale
FRSE (Edinburgh: Tron)
1774
Robert Henry (
Edinburgh: New Greyfriars' )
1775
David Shaw (Coylton)
1776
John Ker (
Forfar )
1777
James Brown (Edinburgh: New (West) Kirk, St Giles)
1778
Patrick Grant (
Urray )
1779
James Gillespie (St Andrews)
1780
Harry Spens (
East Wemyss )
1781
William Dalrymple (
Ayr )
1782
Joseph McCormick (
Prestonpans , later Principal of St Leonard's College, University of St Andrews)
1783
Henry Grieve (
Dalkeith )
1785
Henry Moncrieff-Wellwood , Bart., (Edinburgh: West)
1786
Duncan Shaw (Aberdeen North)
1787
Robert Liston (
Aberdour ) (last to be elected without DD)
1788
Archibald Davidson (Principal of the University of Glasgow)
1789
George Hill (Professor of Divinity, University of St Andrews)
1790
John Walker (Professor of Natural History, Edinburgh)
1791
Robert Small (Dundee, St Mary's), Mathematician and Astronomer
1792
Andrew Hunter (Professor of Divinity, University of Edinburgh])
1793
Thomas Hardy (Professor of Church History, University of Edinburgh)
1794
Robert Arnot (Professor of Divinity, University of St Andrews)
1795
James Meek (
Cambuslang ), Historian and Meteorologist
1796
William Greenfield (Edinburgh: High Church, also Professor of Rhetoric at the University of Edinburgh)
1797
John Adamson (St Andrews) Professor of Civil History in the
United College, University of St Andrews
1798
William Taylor (Glasgow: High, also Principal of the
University of Glasgow )
1799
William Moodie (Edinburgh: St Andrew's, also Professor of Hebrew at the University of Edinburgh)
1800
George Baird (Principal, University of Edinburgh)
19th century
1801
William Ritchie (
Kilwinning )
1802
James Finlayson (Edinburgh: High Church, also Professor of Logic at the University of Edinburgh)
1803
Gilbert Gerard (Professor of Divinity, University of Aberdeen)
1804
John Inglis (Greyfriars Kirk, Edinburgh)
1805
George Hamilton (Gladsmuir) Following
William McQuhae 's rejection of the role
[9]
[3]
1806
William Taylor (St Enoch's, Glasgow)
1807
James Sherriffs (Aberdeen)
1808
Andrew Grant (Kilmarnock)
1809
Francis Nicoll (
Mains and Strathmartine east of
Dundee - later Principal of
St Leonard's College, St Andrews )
1810
Hugh Meiklejohn (Abercorn, also Professor of Church History at the University of Edinburgh)
1811
Alexander Ranken (St David's (Ramshorn) Church, Glasgow)
1812
William MacMorine (Caerlaverock) instead of Robert Dickson of
South Leith Parish Church who declined Moderatorship
[3]
1813
Andrew Brown (Edinburgh: Old Church, also Professor of Rhetoric at the University of Edinburgh)
1814
David Ritchie
FRSE (Edinburgh: St Andrew's, also Professor of Logic at the University of Edinburgh)
1815
Lewis Gordon (Drainie)
1816
John Cook (of Kilmany then Professor of Hebrew, then Biblical Criticism at St Andrews)
1817
Gavin Gibb (Glasgow: St Andrew's, also Professor of Hebrew, University of Glasgow)
1818
John Campbell (Tolbooth parish, Edinburgh)
1819 and 1843
Duncan Macfarlan (Drymen, later Principal of the University of Glasgow)
1820
Thomas MacKnight
FRSE (Edinburgh: Old Church)
1821
Duncan Mearns (Professor of Divinity,
University of Aberdeen )
1822
David Lamont (
Kirkpatrick Durham )
1823
Alexander Brunton (Edinburgh: Tron Kirk, also Professor of Oriental Languages, University of Edinburgh)
1824
Andrew Duncan (Ratho)
1825
George Cook
FRSE (Laurencekirk)
1826
Thomas Taylor (
Tibbermore )
1827
Robert Haldane (Principal, St Mary's College, University of St Andrews)
1828
Stevenson McGill (Professor of Divinity, University of Glasgow)
1829
Patrick Forbes (Oldmachar)
1830
William Singer (
Kirkpatrick-Juxta )
1831
James Wallace (
Whitekirk )
1832
Thomas Chalmers (Professor of Divinity, University of Edinburgh)
1833
John Stirling (
Craigie, South Ayrshire )
1834
Patrick MacFarlan (West Kirk
Greenock )
1835
William Aird Thomson (Perth)
1836
Norman Macleod (The Highlanders' Friend) (
Glasgow: St Columba )
1837
Matthew Gardiner (Bothwell)
1838
William Muir (
Edinburgh: St Stephen's )
1839
Henry Duncan (Ruthwell)
1840
Angus Makellar (
Pencaitland )
1841
Robert Gordon (Edinburgh: High Church)
1842
David Welsh (Professor of Church History, University of Edinburgh)
Post Disruption
The "
Disruption " in the Church of Scotland took place in 1843, with approximately one-third of the ministers leaving to form the
Free Church of Scotland . The Moderator in this critical year was
Duncan Macfarlan (High Church of Glasgow)
1844
John Lee (Principal, University of Edinburgh)
1845
Alexander Hill (Professor of Divinity, University of Glasgow)
1846
James Paull (
Tullynessle )
1847
John Paul (Edinburgh: West Kirk)
1848
George Buist (Professor of Church History, University of St Andrews)
1849
Alexander Lockhart Simpson (
Kirknewton )
1850
John Graham of Balfunning (
Killearn )
1851 John Macleod (
Morvern )
1852
Lewis William Forbes (
Boharm )
1853
James Barr (Glasgow: St Enoch's)
1854
James Grant (Edinburgh: St Mary's)
1855
Andrew Bell (
Linlithgow )
1856
John Crombie (Scone)
1857
James Robertson
FRSE (Professor of Church History, University of Edinburgh)
1858
Matthew Leishman (
Govan )
1859
Prof John Cook (Professor of Church History, University of St Andrews)
1860
James Maitland (
Kells, Dumfries and Galloway )
1861
Colin Smith (
Glenaray near
Inveraray )
1862
James Bisset (
Bourtie )
1863
James Craik (Glasgow: St George's)
1864
William Robinson Pirie (Principal,
University of Aberdeen )
1865
James Macfarlane
FRSE (Duddingston, near Edinburgh)
1866
John Cook (Haddington)
1867
Thomas Jackson Crawford
FRSE , (Professor of Divinity, University of Edinburgh)
1868
James Strachan Barty (Bendochy)
1869
Norman MacLeod (Glasgow: The Barony)
1870
George Ritchie (
Jedburgh )
1871
Robert Horne Stevenson (Edinburgh: St George's)
1872
Robert Jamieson (Glasgow: St Paul's)
1873
Robert Gillan (Inchinnan)
1874
Samuel Trail (Professor of Divinity, University of Aberdeen)
1875
James Sellar (Aberlour)
1876
George Cook (
Borgue )
1877
Kenneth Macleay Phin (Convener of the Home Mission Committee)
1878
John Tulloch (Principal, St Mary's College, University of St Andrews)
1879
James Crystal (
Auchinleck )
1880
Archibald Watson (
St Mary's, Dundee )
1881
James Smith (
Cathcart )
1882
William Milligan (Professor of Biblical Criticism, University of Aberdeen)
1883
John Rankine (
Sorn )
1884 Peter MacKenzie (Urquhart in Presbytery of
Dingwall )
1885
Alexander Ferrier Mitchell (Professor of Church History, University of UniversSt Andrews)
1886
John Cunningham (Principal, St Mary's College, University of St Andrews)
1887
George Hutchison (
Banchory -Ternan)
1888
William Henry Gray (Liberton)
1889
Paton James Gloag (Galashiels)
1890
A. K. H. Boyd (St Andrews)
1891
James MacGregor (Edinburgh: St Cuthbert's)
1892
Archibald Charteris (University of Edinburgh)
1893
J. Marshall Lang (Glasgow: The Barony)
1894
Robert Herbert Story (Principal of the University of Glasgow)
1895 Donald Macleod (Glasgow: Park Church) after post declined by
Robert Flint
[10]
1896
Archibald Scott (Edinburgh: St George's)
1897
William Mair (
Earlston )
1898
Thomas Leishman (Linton)
1899
John Pagan (Bothwell)
1900
Norman Macleod
FRSE (
Inverness )
20th century
The union of the Church of Scotland and the
United Free Church of Scotland occurred in 1929, the newly reunited church henceforth being known as the Church of Scotland.
1929
John White (Glasgow: The Barony)(also served in 1925)
1930
Andrew Nisbet Bogle (Joint-Secretary, Church and Ministry Department)
1931
John Anderson Graham
CIE (
Kalimpong , India) (Founder of
Dr. Graham's Homes )
1932
Hugh Ross Mackintosh (Professor of Dogmatics, University of Edinburgh)
1933
Lauchlan MacLean Watt (
Glasgow Cathedral )
1934
Peter Donald Thomson (Glasgow:
Kelvinside (Botanic Gardens))
1935
Marshall B. Lang (Whittingehame)
1936
Daniel Lamont (Professor of Practical Theology,
New College, Edinburgh )
1937
Dugald MacFarlane (
Kingussie )
1938
James Black (Edinburgh: St George's West)
1939
Archibald Main (Glasgow)
1940
James Rae Forgan (Ayr: Trinity UF)
1941
J. H. Cockburn (
Dunblane Cathedral )
1942
Charles William Gray Taylor CBE (Edinburgh: St George's)
1943
John Baillie (Professor of Divinity, University of Edinburgh)
1944
Edward James Hagan OBE (Edinburgh: Warrender)
1945 A. J. Campbell (
Evie, Orkney )
1946 John McKenzie CIE (former Principal, The Wilson College, Bombay, India)
1947
Matthew Stewart (
Hamilton Old and Auchingramont )
1948
Alexander Macdonald (
Glasgow: St Columba )
1949
George Simpson Duncan OBE (University of St Andrews)
1950
Hugh Watt (University of Edinburgh)
1951
William White Anderson MC (Edinburgh: St Cuthbert's)
1952
George Johnstone Jeffrey (
Glasgow: Sherbrooke St Gilbert's )
1953
James Pitt-Watson (Glasgow)
1954
Ernest David Jarvis (
Glasgow: Wellington )
1955
G. D. Henderson FBA (University of Aberdeen)
1956
Robert F. V. Scott (
St Columba's Church, London )
1957
George MacLeod MC (
Iona Community ) (Peerage in 1967: Lord MacLeod of Fuinary)
1958
John A. Fraser MBE (Hamilton Old and Auchingramont)
1959
Robert Henry Wishart Shepherd (
Lovedale (South Africa) )
1960
J. H. S. Burleigh (University of Edinburgh)
1961
Archibald Campbell Craig MC (University of Glasgow)
1962
Nevile Davidson (Glasgow Cathedral)
1963
James Stuart Stewart (Edinburgh)
1964
Duncan Fraser (Invergordon)
1965 Archibald Watt STM (Edzell and Lethnot)
1966
Leonard Small OBE (Edinburgh: St Cuthbert's)
1967
William Roy Sanderson (Stenton linked with Whittinghame)
1968
James Boyd Longmuir (Principal Clerk to the General Assembly)
1969
Thomas Moffat Murchison (Glasgow: St Columba Summertown)
1970
Hugh O. Douglas KCVO CBE (
Dundee: St Mary's )
1971
Andrew Herron (Clerk to the
Presbytery of Glasgow )
1972
Ronald Selby Wright CVO FRSE FSAScot (
Edinburgh: Canongate )
1973
George T. H. Reid
MC (Aberdeen: Langstane)
1974
David Steel (
Linlithgow: St Michael's ) (Father of
Lord Steel of Aikwood )
1975
James Gunn Matheson (Portree (Isle of Skye))
1976
Thomas F. Torrance MBE
FRSE (University of Edinburgh)
1977
John Rodger Gray VRD (Dunblane Cathedral)
1978
Peter Brodie (Alloa: St Mungo's)
1979
Robert A. S. Barbour KCVO MC (University of Aberdeen)
1980
William Bryce Johnston (
Edinburgh: Colinton )
1981
Andrew Beveridge Doig (National Bible Society of Scotland)
1982
John McIntyre CVO FRSE (University of Edinburgh)
1983
J. Fraser McLuskey MC (London: St Columba's)
1984
John M. K. Paterson (Milngavie: St Paul's)
1985
David M. B. A. Smith (Logie, by Stirling)
1986
Robert Craig CBE (
Jerusalem (Emeritus) )
1987
Duncan Shaw
Bundesverdienstkreuz (Edinburgh: Craigentinny St Christopher's)
1988
James A. Whyte (University of St Andrews)
1989
William J. G. McDonald (Edinburgh: Mayfield)
1990
Robert Davidson FRSE (University of Glasgow)
1991
William B. R. Macmillan (Dundee: St Mary's)
1992
Hugh R. Wyllie FCIBS (Hamilton: Old Parish Church)
1993
James L. Weatherhead CBE (Principal Clerk to the General Assembly)
1994
James A. Simpson (
Dornoch Cathedral )
1995
James Harkness KCVO CB OBE (
Chaplain General of Her Majesty's Forces (Emeritus))
1996
John H. McIndoe (London: St Columba's linked with Newcastle: St Andrew's)
1997
Alexander McDonald (General Secretary of the CofS Board of Ministry)
1998
Alan Main (University of Aberdeen)
1999
John B. Cairns (Dumbarton: Riverside)
2000
Andrew McLellan CBE (Edinburgh:
St Andrew's & St George's )
21st century
Moderators who were later Moderators of the Free Church
See also
References
Sources
Church of Scotland Yearbook 1908 edition, 1933 edition, 1966 edition and 2003-04 edition
ISBN
0-86153-353-4 . The 1908 yearbook entries (1560-1908) were compiled by the late Rev Dr Robert W. Weir.
Note
External links
1929–1950 1950–1975 1975–2000 Since 2000