James Veitch (1808–1879) was a minister of the

Church of Scotland The Church of Scotland ( sco, The Kirk o Scotland; gd, Eaglais na h-Alba) is the national church in Scotland. The Church of Scotland was principally shaped by John Knox, in the Reformation of 1560, when it split from the Catholic Church ...

and noted astronomer and geologist. A traditionalist, he resisted all innovations within the church (such as reintroduction of iconography in stained glass, and the use of church organs). Ironically, in bequeathing most of his monies to the church, much was then used to "modernise" the church structure.''Fasti Ecclesiae Scoticanae''; by Hew Scott

Life

He was born at Inchbonny near

Jedburgh Jedburgh (; gd, Deadard; sco, Jeddart or ) is a town and former royal burgh in the Scottish Borders and the traditional county town of the historic county of Roxburghshire, the name of which was randomly chosen for Operation Jedburgh in s ...

on 27 April 1808 one of at least seven children of Betty Robson and her husband, James Miller Veitch, a ploughwright. He was educated 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 ...

. His father made telescopes and this evolved into Veitch and his brothers being keen astronomers. He was ordained as minister of

Galashiels Galashiels (; sco, Gallae, gd, An Geal Àth) is a town in the Scottish Borders with a population of around 12,600. Its name is often colloquially shortened to "Gala". The town is a major commercial centre for the Borders region with extensive ...

in August 1830. He translated to the collegiate section of

St Cuthbert's Church, Edinburgh The Parish Church of St Cuthbert is a parish church of the Church of Scotland in central Edinburgh. Probably founded in the 7th century, the church once covered an extensive parish around the Old Town of Edinburgh, burgh of Edinburgh. The church' ...

in March 1843 in place of Rev David Dickson in the mids of the ministry (at "first charge") of Rev John Paul. The University of Edinburgh awarded him an honorary Doctor of Divinity (DD) in 1854. He was convener of the Indian Mission for many years. He lived his final years at 8 Merchiston Park in west Edinburgh.Edinburgh Post Office Directory 1879 He fell ill in 1877 and died on 11 April 1879 aged 70. He was buried in

Jedburgh Abbey Jedburgh Abbey, a ruined Augustinian abbey which was founded in the 12th century, is situated in the town of Jedburgh, in the Scottish Borders north of the border with England at Carter Bar. History Towards the middle of the 9th century, when ...

with his family. He is also memorialised in

Grange Cemetery The Grange (originally St Giles' 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 Hil ...

in Edinburgh. In his will he left all his monies to the church and parish. This in part paid for the major rebuild of the church in 1890. His position in St Cuthbert's was filled by James Barclay.

Publications

*Reasons Against Affiliating our Christian Missions to the Secular System of Government Education in India (1857) *The Effifacy of Prayer (1865)

References

{{DEFAULTSORT:Veitch, James 1808 births 1879 deaths People from Jedburgh Clergy from the Scottish Borders Alumni of the University of Edinburgh Scottish philanthropists 19th-century Ministers of the Church of Scotland