Matthew Stewart (moderator)

Matthew Stewart (1881–1952) was a Scottish minister who served as Moderator of the General Assembly of the Church of Scotland in 1947.

The Old Parish Church from the rear

Life[]

St Paul's Church, Perth

He was born on New Year's Day, 1 January 1881. He first studied a general Classics degree at Glasgow University graduating MA (Hons) in 1902. He was then a Snell Exhibitioner at Balliol College, Oxford, gaining a further BA in 1906. He then returned to Scotland with a MacKenzie Scholarship with which he studied Theology at Divinity Hall in Glasgow graduating BD in 1909. He was licensed to preach by the Presbytery of Glasgow and first served as an assistant at Pollokshields, he then moved to Blackfriars Church in Glasgow in 1911.^[1]

In 1912 he was ordained as minister of St Paul's Church in Perth. He transferred to Keith in 1914. After 12 years in Keith he made an unusual move back to "second charge" in Hamilton Old Parish Church in 1926, and became minister (first charge) in 1930. He resigned in 1948.

His additional roles included Chaplain to the 6th Gordon Highlanders during the First World War. He lectured in Pastoral Theology at both Aberdeen University and Glasgow University and was active in the Church Courts.

In 1944 Glasgow University awarded him an honorary doctorate (DD). He was elected Moderator in 1948 and was succeeded by Alexander Macdonald.^[2]

He died in 1952.

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