John Graham of Balfunning (1778–1865) was a 19th century minister of the
Church of Scotland and landowner, who served as
Moderator of the General Assembly in 1850, the highest position in the Scottish church.
Life
He was born on 1 May 1778 the second son of Thomas Graham a landowner and farmer and his wife Mary McEwan. He was raised at Balfunning House near
Balfron. He studied at
Glasgow University and was licensed by the Presbytery of Perth in September 1801.
[''Fasti Ecclesiae Scoticanae''; by Hew Scott]
In September 1805 he was ordained as minister of
Fintry. In January 1822, under patronage of James,
Duke of Montrose he was presented to the congregation of
Killearn. He formally translated to this new role in May 1822, replacing his uncle, Rev James Graham (1736-1821). In 1825 Glasgow University awarded him an honorary
Doctor of Divinity
A Doctor of Divinity (D.D. or DDiv; la, Doctor Divinitatis) is the holder of an advanced academic degree in divinity.
In the United Kingdom, it is considered an advanced doctoral degree. At the University of Oxford, doctors of divinity are ran ...
.
He inherited Balfunning House and estate on the death of his father.
In 1850 he succeeded the Rev
Alexander Lockhart Simpson
Alexander Lockhart Simpson (1785–1861) was a Scottish minister who served as Moderator of the General Assembly of the Church of Scotland in 1849/50.
Life
He was born in April 1785. In 1803 he was a student at the Selkirk Hall of the Secession ...
as
Moderator of the General Assembly of the Church of Scotland
The Moderator of the General Assembly of the Church of Scotland is the ministers and elders of the Church of Scotland, minister or elder chosen to moderate (chair) the annual General Assembly of the Church of Scotland, which is held for a week i ...
the highest position in the Scottish Church. He was succeeded in turn by Rev
John Macleod.
He died on 12 January 1865. Balfunning passed to his only son, Thomas.
Family
In November 1805 he married Elizabeth Bannerman daughter of David Bannerman of Letham Hill. They had several children:
*Jane Graham (1806-1838) married Rev James Campbell of Petershill
*Margaret (b.1808)
*Elizabeth (1812-1836)
*Captain Thomas Graham of Balfunning (1817-1894) heir to Balfunning House
References
{{DEFAULTSORT:Graham, John
1778 births
1865 deaths
Alumni of the University of Glasgow
19th-century Scottish landowners
Moderators of the General Assembly of the Church of Scotland