James MacKnight

Last updated

James MacKnight (1721-1800) was a Scottish minister and theological author, serving at the Old Kirk of Edinburgh (St Giles Cathedral). He is remembered for his book Harmony of the Gospels and as Moderator of the General Assembly of the Church of Scotland in 1769.

Contents

Life

The church building on Infirmary Street. The Secessionist Church, Infirmary Street, Edinburgh.JPG
The church building on Infirmary Street.
St Giles in the 18th century St Giles' from Parliament Square.png
St Giles in the 18th century
The grave of Very Rev James MacKnight, St Cuthberts Churchyard, Edinburgh The grave of Very Rev James MacKnight, St Cuthberts Churchyard, Edinburgh.jpg
The grave of Very Rev James MacKnight, St Cuthberts Churchyard, Edinburgh

He was born on 17 September 1721 in the manse in Irvine in Ayrshire the son of Elizabeth Gemmill of Dalraith (d.1753) and her husband, Rev William Mackneight (sic) (d. 1750), the parish minister. The family appear to have originally been called McNaughtane or McNaughton, and came from the Scottish Highlands via Ireland. [1]

He was educated in Irvine then received a theological bursary from the Exchequer and studied theology at the University of Glasgow from 1735 and graduating in 1743 before travelling to Europe to undertake further studies at the University of Leyden, a recognised centre for theological study. Around 1745, having been licensed to preach as a minister of the Church of scotland by the Presbytery of Irvine, he became an assistant at the Chapel of Ease in the Gorbals in south Glasgow. A few years later he assisted the Rev Alexander Ferguson in Kilwinning Church before finally in 1753 receiving his own church, at Maybole not far from his home town of Irvine. [2]

In 1759 the University of Edinburgh awarded him an honorary doctorate (DD). In 1769 he was translated from Maybole to Jedburgh in the Scottish Borders. In the same year he was elected Moderator of the General Assembly. In November 1771 he was translated again, to Lady Yester's Kirk in Edinburgh. In 1778 he made his final move, to the Old Kirk of Edinburgh, one of the four parishes contained in St Giles Cathedral. During this period he befriended the Rev Robert Henry. [1]

In 1784 he became joint collector of the Ministers' Widows' Fund. [3]

He died at home at 11 Nicolson Street [4] in Edinburgh on 13 January 1800. As St Giles lacks a graveyard he is buried in St Cuthbert's Churchyard at the west end of Princes Street. [5] The grave lies on a main dividing wall to the north of the church. The main central marble tablet is highly eroded and reference to him is now only visible on the side tablets. The graves of his family surround him.

Publications

Family

In April 1754 he married Elizabeth McCormick (1728-1813), daughter of Samuel McCormick, General Exaniber of Excise in Edinburgh. [3]

They had four sons:

Related Research Articles

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Robert Rollock</span> Minister of the Church of Scotland, theologian

Robert Rollock was Scottish academic and minister in the Church of Scotland, and the first regent and first principal of the University of Edinburgh. Born into a noble family, he distinguished himself during his education at the University of St Andrews, which led to him being appointed regent of the newly created college in Edinburgh in 1583, and its first principal in 1586.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">William Robertson (historian)</span> Scottish historian

William Robertson FRSE FSA Scot was a Scottish historian, minister in the Church of Scotland, and Principal of the University of Edinburgh. "The thirty years during which [he] presided over the University perhaps represent the highest point in its history." He made significant contributions to the writing of Scottish history and the history of Spain and Spanish America.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Ordination of women in the Church of Scotland</span>

The Church of Scotland was one of the first national churches to accept the ordination of women. In Presbyterianism, ordination is understood to be an ordinance rather than a sacrament; ministers and elders are ordained; until recently deacons were "commissioned" but now they too are ordained to their office in the Church of Scotland.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Canongate Kirk</span> Church in Edinburgh, Scotland

The Kirk of the Canongate, or Canongate Kirk, serves the Parish of Canongate in Edinburgh's Old Town, in Scotland. It is a congregation of the Church of Scotland. The parish includes the Palace of Holyroodhouse and the Scottish Parliament. It is also the parish church of Edinburgh Castle, even though the castle is detached from the rest of the parish. The wedding of Zara Phillips, the Queen's granddaughter, and former England rugby captain Mike Tindall took place at the church on 30 July 2011. The late Queen Elizabeth II used to attend services in the church on some of her frequent visits to Edinburgh.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">The Grange, Edinburgh</span> Human settlement in Scotland

The Grange is an affluent suburb of Edinburgh, just south of the city centre, with Morningside and Greenhill to the west, Newington to the east, The Meadows park and Marchmont to the north, and Blackford Hill to the south. It is a conservation area characterised by large early Victorian stone-built villas and mansions, often with very large gardens. The Grange was built mainly between 1830 and 1890, and the area represented the idealisation of country living within an urban setting.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Tron Kirk</span>

The Tron Kirk is a former principal parish church in Edinburgh, Scotland. It is a well-known landmark on the Royal Mile. It was built in the 17th century and closed as a church in 1952. Having stood empty for over fifty years, it was used as a tourist information centre for several years in the mid 2000's and, more recently, was the site of the Edinburgh World Heritage Exhibition and John Kay’s book and gift shop.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">South Leith Parish Church</span> Church in Edinburghs harbour district, Scotland

South Leith Parish Church, originally the Kirk of Our Lady, St Mary, is a congregation of the Church of Scotland. It is the principal church and congregation in Leith, in Edinburgh. Its kirkyard is the burial place for John Home and John Pew, the man from whom the author Robert Louis Stevenson reputedly derived the character of Blind Pew in the novel Treasure Island. The church has been repaired, used as an ammunition store and reconstructed but still retains the basic layout of the nave of the old church.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">David Dickson (minister)</span> Scottish theologian and minister

David Dickson (1583–1663) was a Church of Scotland minister and theologian.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Greyfriars Kirkyard</span> Graveyard in Edinburgh, Scotland

Greyfriars Kirkyard is the graveyard surrounding Greyfriars Kirk in Edinburgh, Scotland. It is located at the southern edge of the Old Town, adjacent to George Heriot's School. Burials have been taking place since the late 16th century, and a number of notable Edinburgh residents are interred at Greyfriars. The Kirkyard is operated by City of Edinburgh Council in liaison with a charitable trust, which is linked to but separate from the church. The Kirkyard and its monuments are protected as a category A listed building.

James Leslie Weatherhead was a minister of the Church of Scotland and the Moderator of the General Assembly of the Church of Scotland for 1993–1994.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">David Brown (Free Church of Scotland)</span>

David Brown was a son of bookseller who was twice Provost of the city. He was a Free Church of Scotland minister who served as Moderator of the General Assembly 1885/86. He was co-author of the Jamieson-Fausset-Brown Commentary on the whole Bible.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Andrew Brown (minister)</span>

Andrew Brown was Professor of Rhetoric at Edinburgh University and Moderator of the General Assembly of the Church of Scotland in 1813. He was also a historian and author, closely connected to the history of Nova Scotia, having served as a minister at St. Matthew's United Church (Halifax).

Paton James Gloag (1823–1906) was a Scottish minister and theological author. He was Moderator of the General Assembly of the Church of Scotland in 1889.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Thomas MacKnight (minister)</span> Scottish minister

Thomas MacKnight FRSE FSA MWS (1762–1836) was a Scottish minister based in Edinburgh who was Moderator of the General Assembly of the Church of Scotland in 1820. He is also remembered as a gifted physicist, mathematician and geologist.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Logie Kirk</span>

Logie Kirk is an isolated but operational church east of Stirling in central Scotland serving Church of Scotland pastoral duties in the areas of Cambuskenneth, Bridge of Allan, Causewayhead, and formerly the estate of Airthrey Castle.

Gilbert Hamilton (1715–1772) was a Scottish minister of the Church of Scotland who served as Moderator of the General Assembly in 1768, the highest position in the Scottish Church.

William Mitchell (1670–1727) was a 17th/18th century Scottish minister who served as Moderator of the General Assembly of the Church of Scotland five times. He was Chaplain in Ordinary to the King.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">John Paul (minister)</span>

John Paul DD (1795–1873) was a minister of the Church of Scotland who served as Moderator of the General Assembly in 1847. A major figure in Edinburgh society, he was linked to both the Balfours of Leith and the Stevenson family of engineers.

James Bonar or Bonor was a Church of Scotland minister who served as Moderator of the General Assembly in 1644. He was a strong supporter of the Covenanters. He was a Resolutioner and member of the Moderate Party within the church.

References

  1. 1 2 "Significant Scots - Dr James MacKnight". Electricscotland.com. Retrieved 2 October 2017.
  2. Oxford Dictionary of National Biography; Rev James MacKnight
  3. 1 2 Fasti Ecclesiae Scoticanae; by Hew Scott
  4. Edinburgh Post Office Directory 1800
  5. "Scottish Records Society : Monumental Inscriptions" (PDF). Waeve.co.uk. Retrieved 2 October 2017.
  6. "Macknight, James, Dd from the McClintock and Strong Biblical Cyclopedia". McClintock and Strong Biblical Cyclopedia Online. Retrieved 2 October 2017.