The Very Reverend Professor

James Pitt-Watson
Moderator of the General Assembly
ChurchChurch of Scotland
In office1953 to 1954
PredecessorGeorge Johnstone Jeffrey
SuccessorErnest David Jarvis
Personal details
Born9 November 1893
Died25 December 1962(1962-12-25) (aged 69)
NationalityScottish
DenominationPresbyterianism
OccupationChurch minister and academic

James Pitt-Watson (9 November 1893 – 25 December 1962) was a Scottish minister and academic. He was Professor of Practical Theology at Glasgow University and served as Moderator of the General Assembly of the Church of Scotland in 1953.[1] He has been described as an "ecclesiastical politician".[2]

Life

St Mungo's in Alloa

James Pitt-Watson was born on 9 November 1893. He was educated at George Heriot's School, a private school in Edinburgh, Scotland. He studied and trained for ministry at the University of Edinburgh.[3]

Pitt-Watson was ordained for the Church of Scotland in 1920.[3] He was minister of St. Mungo's Parish Church in Alloa church in central Scotland from 1929 to 1946.[4] During his time as Moderator he presented a Bible to Queen Elizabeth II at her coronation, saying, "Here is wisdom, this is the royal law, these are the lively Oracles of God."[5] Other duties as Moderator included opening the new church at Colinton Mains in south-west Edinburgh[6]

He died on Christmas Day, 25 December 1962. His obituary was written by the Very Rev A C Craig.[7]

Family

He was father to Rev Prof Ian Pitt-Watson (1923-1995).[8] Through his son Ian, he is grandfather to the Scottish businessman, David Pitt-Watson.

References

  1. ^ "The Rev Professor Ian Pitt-Watson". HeraldScotland.
  2. ^ Power without Glory: Ian Henderson 1967
  3. ^ a b "Pitt-Watson, Very Rev. Prof. James". Who Was Who. Oxford University Press. 1 December 2007. doi:10.1093/ww/9780199540884.013.U55678. ISBN 978-0-19-954089-1. Retrieved 2 June 2019.
  4. ^ "Ian Pitt-Watson". www.hymntime.com. Archived from the original on 15 July 2014. Retrieved 17 January 2022.
  5. ^ "Moderator joins the Queen at official Diamond Jubilee celebration - Church of Scotland". www.churchofscotland.org.uk. Archived from the original on 24 October 2014. Retrieved 17 January 2022.
  6. ^ "Fairmilehead Parish Church | History". fhpc.org.uk.
  7. ^ Glasgow Herald (newspaper) 27 December 1962
  8. ^ "Ian Pitt-Watson". The Canterbury Dictionary of Hymnology. Canterbury Press. Retrieved 2 June 2019.

External links

Moderators of the General Assembly of the Church of Scotland
Categories