The Very Reverend
James Sutherland Thomson
FRSC
President of the University of Saskatchewan
In office
1937–1949
Preceded byWalter Charles Murray
Succeeded byWalter P. Thompson
17th Moderator of the United Church of Canada
In office
1956–1958
Preceded byGeorge Dorey
Succeeded byAngus J. MacQueen
Personal details
Born(1892-04-30)April 30, 1892
Stirling, Scotland
DiedNovember 18, 1972(1972-11-18) (aged 80)
Montreal, Quebec

James Sutherland Thomson FRSC (April 30, 1892 – November 18, 1972) was a Canadian academic and Christian minister, a president of the University of Saskatchewan, and the 17th Moderator of the United Church of Canada.

Biography

Born in Stirling, Scotland, Thomson was educated at the University of Glasgow. He studied theology at Trinity College, Glasgow, and was ordained in the Church of Scotland in 1920. Upon moving to Canada in 1930, he accepted an appointment as professor of systematic theology and philosophy of religion at Pine Hill Divinity Hall (now part of the Atlantic School of Theology) in Halifax, Nova Scotia. From 1937 to 1949, he was the second president of the University of Saskatchewan. During World War II, he was general manager of the Canadian Broadcasting Corporation from 1942 to 1943.[1]

In 1949, he became dean of the newly formed Faculty of Divinity at McGill University and also served there as professor of religious studies. He retired as dean in 1957. From 1956 to 1958, he served as Moderator of the United Church of Canada, elected by the 17th General Council at their meeting in Windsor, Ontario.[2] He was made a Fellow of the Royal Society of Canada in 1942.[3]

References

  1. ^ "Presidents: James S. Thomson (1937-1949)". University Archives and Special Collections. University of Saskatchewan. Retrieved June 5, 2016.
  2. ^ "Historical Timeline: 1950's". The United Church of Canada. United Church of Canada. Retrieved June 5, 2016.
  3. ^ "James S. Thomson (1937-1949) - Obituary". University Archives and Special Collections. University of Saskatchewan. Retrieved June 5, 2016.
Religious titles Preceded byGeorge Dorey Moderator of the United Church of Canada 1956–1958 Succeeded byAngus J. MacQueen Academic offices Preceded byWalter Charles Murray President of the University of Saskatchewan 1937–1949 Succeeded byWalter P. Thompson Preceded byR. B. Y. Scott Dean of Divinity at McGill University 1949–1957 Succeeded byStanley B. Frost
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