Walter Chalmers Smith (5 December 1824 – 19 September 1908), was a

hymnist A hymnwriter (or hymn writer, hymnist, hymnodist, hymnographer, etc.) is someone who writes the text, music, or both of hymns. In the Judeo-Christian tradition, the composition of hymns dates back to before the time of David, who composed many of ...

, author, poet and minister of the Free Church of Scotland, chiefly remembered for his hymn "

Immortal, Invisible, God Only Wise "Immortal, Invisible, God Only Wise" is a Christian hymn with words by the Free Church of Scotland minister, Walter Chalmers Smith, usually sung to the tune, "St. Denio", originally a Welsh ballad tune, which became a hymn (under the name "Pale ...

". In 1893 he served as

Moderator of the General Assembly The moderator of the General Assembly is the chairperson of a General Assembly, the highest court of a Presbyterian or Reformed church. Kirk sessions and presbyteries may also style the chairperson as moderator. The Oxford Dictionary states t ...

for the Free Church of Scotland. He attained considerable reputation as a

poet A poet is a person who studies and creates poetry. Poets may describe themselves as such or be described as such by others. A poet may simply be the creator ( thinker, songwriter, writer, or author) who creates (composes) poems ( oral or wri ...

. Some of these works were written under the names of Orwell or Hermann Kunst.

Early life and education

He was born in

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 ...

on 5 December 1824, the son of Walter Smith, a cabinet-maker living at 16 Blackfriars Street, by his wife Barbara Milne He was educated at the grammar school, Aberdeen, and at Marischal College, which he entered at the age of thirteen, graduating M.A. in 1841. His original intention was to adopt law as his profession, but under the influence of Dr. Chalmers he entered the

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. Students ...

, to study for the ministry of the Free Church of Scotland.

Church ministries

In 1850 he was ordained pastor of the Free (Scottish) Church in Chadwell Street, Pentonville, London. The small congregation did not become larger under his ministry. In 1853 he resigned and was appointed to Milnathort, in the parish of Orwell, Kinross-shire; and in 1857 he removed to Roxburgh Free Church, Edinburgh. In 1862 he was chosen to succeed the Free Church leader, Dr. Robert Buchanan, in the Free Tron Church, Glasgow. In 1876 he transferred to the Free High Kirk in Edinburgh (part of the New College building). Once settled in Edinburgh he lived at 20 Royal Circus in the New Town. Smith was a thoughtful preacher, catholic in his sympathies, and of rather advanced opinions for the Free Church of his time, though in the end his influence was felt in broadening its outlook. Two ‘Discourses’ that he published in 1866, advocating more liberal views in regard to Sunday observance than those then prevailing in Scotland, came under the ban of his Presbytery, and he was ‘affectionately admonished’ by the General Assembly in June 1867. In 1876 he was translated to the Free High Church, Edinburgh. During the prosecution of Professor Robertson Smith his strong sympathy with the professor gave some offence to the orthodox church leaders; but in 1893 he had so won the confidence of the church that he was chosen moderator of the general assembly.

Legacy

He received the degrees of D.D. from the University of Glasgow (1869), and LL.D. from the universities of Aberdeen (1876) and Edinburgh (1893). He was mentioned in Lord Adam Gifford's will. He was

, the highest position in the Free Church, 1893/94 and retired in 1894 on completion of this role. He was succeeded by George C. M. Douglas. He died at

Kinbuck Kinbuck is a hamlet in Stirlingshire, Scotland. It lies by the Allan Water and the Stirling-Perth Railway line. It is four miles north of Dunblane. Facilities Despite a campaign to save it, Kinbuck Primary School was controversially closed in 19 ...

near

Dunblane Dunblane (, gd, Dùn Bhlàthain) is a small town in the council area of Stirling in central Scotland, and inside the historic boundaries of the county of Perthshire. It is a commuter town, with many residents making use of good transport links ...

on 19 or 20 September 1908. He is buried in the grave of his father-in-law, Rev James Monteith, in

Warriston Cemetery Warriston Cemetery is a cemetery in Edinburgh. It lies in Warriston, one of the northern suburbs of Edinburgh, Scotland. It was built by the then newly-formed Edinburgh Cemetery Company, and occupies around of land on a slightly sloping si ...

in north Edinburgh. The grave lies just south of the central vaults.

Family

In 1853 he was married to Agnes Monteith (1830–1886) daughter of James Monteith.

Artistic recognition

He was painted by Sir George Reid RSA.

Published works

Smith wrote novels, religious works and poems including *''The Bishop's Walk'' (1860) *''Hymns of Christ and the Christian Life'' (1867) *''Olrig Grange'' (1872) *''Borland Hall'' (1874) *''Hilda Among the Broken Gods'' (1878) *''Raban, or Life Splinters'' (1880) *''North Country Folk'' (1883) *''Kildrostan'' (1884) *''Thoughts and Fancies for Sunday Evenings'' (1887) *''A Heretic and Other Poems'' (1890) He attained considerable reputation as a

. Some of these works were written under the names of Orwell or Hermann Kunst.

Hymns

* Earth was waiting, spent and restless * Immortal, invisible, God only wise This remains a popular hymn still in use in the 21st century.

References

Citations

Sources

* * * * * * * * * * * * * * * *

External links

*
Biography
at the Cyber Hymnal; {{DEFAULTSORT:Smith, Walter Chalmers 1824 births 1908 deaths Scottish poets People from Aberdeen 19th-century Ministers of the Free Church of Scotland Alumni of the University of Aberdeen Alumni of the University of Edinburgh Calvinist and Reformed hymnwriters Free Church of Scotland hymnwriters