Past Ministers

(page in preparation)

Much of the information below was obtained from a booklet 'Flotsam & Jetsam' that was sold for 1 shilling to raise funds in order to erect a 'hall to be used for congregational purpose', dated 31 October 1890.

The article is entitled 'The parish Ministers of Peterhead since the reformation' written by James Aiken (with acknowledgement to Dr Hew Scott's Fasti Ecclesiae Scoticanae).

Gilbert Chisholme. In pre-reformation times, the church of Peterhead belonged to the Abbey of Deer.  In 1567, the parish was under the charge of Gilbert Chisholme, one of the conventual brethren, who adopted the principles of the reformation.  He held the charge of Peterugie in conjunction with Deer, Foveran, and St Fergus, the annual stipend being 40 pounds Scots, or £3 6s 8d sterling, to which 40 merks (£2 4s 51/2d) was added in 1570.  He was presented to the parsonage of Lonmay by King James VI., in May 1569, and to the parsonage and vicarage of Rathen in October of the same year.  In 1574, his charge was reduced to Deer, Fetterangus, and Rathen with a spipend of 80 pounds Scots or £6 13s 4d sterling.  In 1576, he was relieved of Rathen but continued at Deer in 1585.  During the early part of the time that the parish was under the charge of Gilbert Chisholme, the service of the church at Peterhead was conducted by

Archibald Reid (1569), who is designated as a reader.  It is probable that Chisholme's connection with Peterugie ceased in 1569, on his presentation to Lonmay.

Archibald Keith (1571-1578) was translated from St Fergus to Peterhead in 1571 and removed to Crimond on being presented by James VI with the vicarage of that parish, with the manse, glebe, and kirkland of the same, on 19th August 1573.  Althougth resident at Crimmond, he continued in charge at Peterugie, St Fergus, and Cruden, with a stipend of £140 Scots, or £11 13s 4d sterling, and the kirklands, out of which he had to pay the reader at Crimond.  He removed from Crimond to St Fergus, sometime between 1580 and 1585, but returned again to Crimond in 1591, and died before February, 1595.  It is probable that he held the charge of Peterugie till 1578.

Thomas Moresoun (1578-1580)

Thomas Bissett (1594-1604)

John Keith (1604-5)

James Martin (1605-1623)

James Martin (1636-1649)

Nathaniel Martin (1649-1664)

John Chalmers (1664-1674)

Alexander Banks (1674-1682)

Alexander Barclay (1682-1695)

Andrew Guthrie (1699-1720)

William Smith (1716-1717)

David Brown (1721-1725)

Robert Farquhar (1726-1738)

James Walker (1739-1763)

George Moir (1763-1816)

William Donald (1816-1844)

Alexander Irvine (1844-1855)

James Mitchell (1855-1864)

James Stewart (1864-1915) was born at Inverkip, Renfrewshire on 12th April 1830.  Was educated at the Grammar school of Greenock, where he received his classical training under Dr James Lockhart Brown.  He entered St Andrew's University in 1846, and graduated A.M. in April 1850. Was licensed by the Presbytery of Greenock in May 1854, and in the same year was appointed to the charge of a new mission in the east end of Greenock.  The work on which he entered was conducted with such zeal and energy that, before the end of 1856, Mr Stewart had gathered together a congregation of several hundreds, and had a new church (known as Cartburn Church) seated for from 800 to 900 persons, erected for their accommodation.  In this charge he was ordained to the Ministry on Christmas day 1856.  When the vacancy occurred at Peterhead, on removal of Mr Mitchell to South Leith, Mr Stewart was selected from a large number of candidates, presented to the church by the Crown, at that time patron, on 23rd July 1864.  Inducted 20th October same year.  The semi-jubilee of his settlement at Peterhead was celebrated on 23rd October 1889, on which occasion he was presented with a purse of sovereigns and a piece of silver plate bearing a suitable inscription.

Douglas Swan (1915-1951)

Allan McArthur (1952-1956)

William Morris (1957-1967)

Ian McKenzie (1968-1973)

James Millar (1974-1978)

David Ross (1978-2004).  Dr Ross lead the congregation faithfully for 25 years before going to be chaplain within the prison service (Craiginch & Peterhead Prisons).  In this time the Manse moved to a newer house in Hawthorn Road.

James (Jimmy) Wishart (2004-2006).  Jimmy, Minister at Deer, was a very effective, friendly, Interim Moderator and he kept the congregation together during this difficult period.  He (with his wife, Helen) kept the essential tasks of the church moving forward including the up grading of the Manse.    He also presided over the 200year celebrations of the current church buildings. Rev. William Taylor, retired Minister from Buckie North, was an excellent and inspirational locum for a year of this time.  The congregation were extremely fortunate to the guidance of inspirational preachers including Rev Pauline Steenbergen, Rev William Dunlop, George Shaw, John Noble, Sena Allen, Richard Sneddon, Ian Smith, Anthea McNee, Paul Govier, Dorothy Mair, Joseph Yule, Jenny Smith.

Rev Pauline Thomson MA BD (Dec 2006 - present).  Pauline came from her year as assistant Minister of Montrose Old and St. Andrew's and was ordained and inducted on 7 December 2006.

Contact Information

Peterhead Old Parish Church, Kirk Square, Peterhead AB42 1RQ

Our Minister  is Rev Pauline Thomson MA BD, The Manse, 1 Hawthorn Road, Peterhead AB42 2DW Tel: 01779 472618

Our Session Clerk is Mrs Hazel Ross 22 Linksfield Terrace, Peterhead, 01779 471383

Electronic mail can be sent via the message page or to john@mucklekirk.co.uk
 

                                                                                                       Last modified: 16-11-08                                                                                                    Scottish Charity Number SCO11147