James Smith Candlish (1835–1897) was a Scottish minister of the Free Church of Scotland who was a professor of theology in

Glasgow Glasgow ( ; sco, Glesca or ; gd, Glaschu ) is the most populous city in Scotland and the fourth-most populous city in the United Kingdom, as well as being the 27th largest city by population in Europe. In 2020, it had an estimated popul ...

Life

He was born on 14 December 1835 at 9 Castle Street in

Edinburgh's New Town The New Town is a central area of Edinburgh, the capital of Scotland. It was built in stages between 1767 and around 1850, and retains much of its original neo-classical and Georgian period architecture. Its best known street is Princes Street ...

the son of Jessie Brock and her husband, Rev

Robert Smith Candlish Robert Smith Candlish (23 March 1806 – 19 October 1873) was a Scottish minister who was a leading figure in the Disruption of 1843. He served for many years in both St. George's Church and St George's Free Church on Charlotte Square in Edinb ...

. He was named after a recently deceased uncle, James Smith Candlish. He was educated at

Edinburgh Academy The Edinburgh Academy is an Independent school (United Kingdom), independent day school in Edinburgh, Scotland, which was opened in 1824. The original building, on Henderson Row in the city's New Town, Edinburgh, New Town, is now part of the Se ...

. He then took a general degree at the

University of Edinburgh The University of Edinburgh ( sco, University o Edinburgh, gd, Oilthigh Dhùn Èideann; abbreviated as ''Edin.'' in post-nominals) is a public research university based in Edinburgh, Scotland. Granted a royal charter by King James VI in 15 ...

graduating with an MA in 1858 then studied divinity at

New College, Edinburgh New College is a historic building at the University of Edinburgh which houses the university's School of Divinity. It is one of the largest and most renowned centres for studies in Theology and Religious Studies in the United Kingdom. Student ...

. He spent some time in Europe studying at

Berlin Berlin ( , ) is the capital and largest city of Germany by both area and population. Its 3.7 million inhabitants make it the European Union's most populous city, according to population within city limits. One of Germany's sixteen constitue ...

and

Erlangen University Erlangen (; East Franconian: ''Erlang'', Bavarian: ''Erlanga'') is a Middle Franconian city in Bavaria, Germany. It is the seat of the administrative district Erlangen-Höchstadt (former administrative district Erlangen), and with 116,062 inhabi ...

. At the

Disruption of 1843 The Disruption of 1843, also known as the Great Disruption, was a schism in 1843 in which 450 evangelical ministers broke away from the Church of Scotland to form the Free Church of Scotland. The main conflict was over whether the Church of S ...

, his father was one of the leading figures in the creation of the Free Church of Scotland. James was ordained as a Free Church of Scotland minister at Logiealmond in 1863. He was translated to

Aberdeen Aberdeen (; sco, Aiberdeen ; gd, Obar Dheathain ; la, Aberdonia) is a city in North East Scotland, and is the third most populous city in the country. Aberdeen is one of Scotland's 32 local government council areas (as Aberdeen City), and ...

East in 1868. In 1872, he became Professor of Systematic Theology at the Free Church College in

. He lived at 5 Royal Circus.Glasgow Post Office Directory 1875 The

University of Glasgow , image = UofG Coat of Arms.png , image_size = 150px , caption = Coat of arms Flag , latin_name = Universitas Glasguensis , motto = la, Via, Veritas, Vita , ...

awarded him an honorary doctorate (DD) in 1874. He famously defended the controversial views of Prof Robertson Smith. He died on 7 March 1897 at the Free Church manse in

Tarbolton Tarbolton ( sco, Tarbowton) is a village in South Ayrshire, Scotland. It is near Failford, Mauchline, Ayr, and Kilmarnock. The old Fail Monastery was nearby and Robert Burns connections are strong, including the Bachelors' Club museum. Meaning o ...

Family

In 1872, he married Ann Elizabeth Simpson, daughter of Dr Simpson of Kintore, at Old Machar in Aberdeen.

Publications

*''The Kingdom of God: Biblically and Historically Considered'' *''The Christian Sacraments'' *''The Christian Doctrine of God'' *''The Work of the Holy Spirit'' *''The Biblical Doctrine of Sin'' *''The Epistle to the Ephesians'' *''The Christian Salvation: Lectures on the Work of Christ''

References

{{DEFAULTSORT:Candlish, James Smith 1835 births 1897 deaths Clergy from Edinburgh People educated at Edinburgh Academy Alumni of the University of Edinburgh 19th-century Ministers of the Free Church of Scotland