James Macfarlane (moderator)

The Very Rev James Macfarlane FRSE DD (1808-1866) was a Scottish minister and ecclesiastical author who served as Moderator of the General Assembly of the Church of Scotland in 1865. He was minister of Duddingston Kirk from 1841 until death.

Duddingston Kirk
The grave of the Very Rev James Macfarlane, Duddingston Kirk

Life

He was born in Waterbeck in Dumfriesshire on 27 April 1808, the son of Rev John Macfarlane (1770–1829).[1] His father later took over the Relief Church at Bridgeton, Glasgow and James was educated at the High School in Glasgow. He then studied divinity at Glasgow University, graduating MA in 1825. He then began helping his father in the Relief Chapel. He was licensed to preach in 1830 and initially spent two years at the North Church in Stirling.

In 1832 he moved to St Bernard’s Chapel in Stockbridge, Edinburgh. He then lived at 11 Carlton Street.[2]

In 1841 he replaced Rev John Thomson at Duddingston Kirk south of Edinburgh. In 1857 he was elected a fellow of the Royal Society of Edinburgh, his proposer being James Grant. In 1848 Glasgow University gave him an honorary doctorate (DD).[3]

He died on 6 February 1866 in Duddingston manse. He is buried with his children, Mary, John and James, in Duddingston Kirkyard. The grave is set into the original Norman entrance on the south side of the church.

Publications
  • A Nation’s True Glory (1838)
  • A Version of the Prophecies of Ezekiel (1845)
  • The Railway (1863)

Family

He was married to Agnes Jane Goodsir of Prestonpans (d.1895). They had nine children, all born in Duddingston manse. Following James’ death she remarried to a John Gunn.[4]

References
  1. "Rev. James Macfarlane, D.D., Minister of Duddingston b. 27 Apr 1808 Waterbeck, Lockerbie, Dumfriesshire, Scotland d. 6 Feb 1866". MacFarlane Clan & Families Genealogy.
  2. Edinburgh and Leith Post Office Directory 1834-35
  3. Biographical Index of Former Fellows of the Royal Society of Edinburgh 1783 – 2002 (PDF). The Royal Society of Edinburgh. July 2006. ISBN 0 902 198 84 X.
  4. "Agnes Jane Goodsir d. 17 May 1895". MacFarlane Clan & Families Genealogy.
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