Charles John Brown (moderator)

Charles John Brown (1806–1884) was a Scottish minister, who served as Moderator of the General Assembly for the Free Church of Scotland from 1872 to 1873.

Rev Charles John Brown c.1860

Life
St. Giles' Cathedral
West St Giles, Edinburgh, now the Bedlam Theatre
15 Buccleuch Place in Edinburgh

He was born in Aberdeen on 21 August 1806, the youngest of five sons of Alexander Brown, a bookseller and twice Lord Provost of Aberdeen, himself son of Rev William Brown of Craigdam.[1] His mother was Catharine Chalmers. His older brothers included David Brown.

He studied at Marischal College and was licensed to preach by the Presbytery of Aberdeen in December 1830.[2]

He was ordained at Anderston Church in Glasgow in 1831. He then lived at 272 St Vincent Street in Glasgow city centre.[3] In 1837 he translated to the New (West), "New North" Church in Edinburgh, his position at Anderston being filled by Rev Alexander Neill Somerville.[4]

In the Disruption of 1843 he left the established Church of Scotland to join the Free Church of Scotland. He then became minister of the New North Free church in Edinburgh, originally housed in Brighton Stret Chapel then moving to a pupose built church at the junction of Forrest Road and Bristo Place. He then lived in a flat at 15 Buccleuch Place, near George Square, Edinburgh.[5] The church was completed in 1849 and he remained there all his life. It was designed by Thomas Hamilton.[6] It is now known as the Bedlam Theatre.[7]

Princeton University awarded him an honorary Doctor of Divinity in 1863.

In 1872 he succeeded Rev Robert Elder as Moderator of the General Assembly.[8]

He died on 3 July 1884.[9]

Artistic recognition

He was photographed by Hill & Adamson in 1843.[10]

Publications
  • Church Establishments Defended with Special Referment to the Church of Scotland in Glasgow (1833)
  • Rights of the Christian People in the Appointment of Their Ministers (1834) relating to the "Auchterarder Question"
  • Lectures on Protestantism (1837)
  • State of Religion in the Land (1844)
  • Restraing of Spiritual Intercourse in Families (1855)
  • The Divine Glory of Christ (1868)
  • The Ministry: Addresses to Students of Divinity
  • The Word of Life (1874)

Family

In 1834 he married Jane Bannatyne Wright (d.1895). Their children included:[11]

  • Alexander (b.1835)
  • John Wright Brown (1836-1863)
  • Margaret Lanes Brown (1837-1853)
  • Catherine Chalmers Brown (1838-1859)
  • Charles John Brown jr. (b.1841)
  • Ross
  • David (b.1846)
  • Andrew Howden (b.1848)
  • Robert Wright Brown
  • Thomas Chalmers Brown (1852-1853)
  • Jane Elizabeth Brown (b.1855) married Dyson Weston in London

References
  1. "The Divine Glory of Christ by Charles John Brown". Trinity Book Service. Retrieved 2019-01-15.
  2. Fasti Ecclesiastae Scoticana by Hew Scott
  3. Glasgow Post Office Directory 1835
  4. Ewing, William Annals of the Free Church
  5. Edinburgh Post Office Directory 1845
  6. Buildings of Scotland: Edinburgh; Gifford, John; McWilliam, Colin; Walker, David
  7. "Bedlam Theatre". bedlamtheatre.co.uk. Retrieved 2019-01-15.
  8. Fasti Ecclesiastae Scoticana by Hew Scott
  9. Fasti Ecclesiastae Scoticana by Hew Scott
  10. "Rev. Dr Charles John Brown, 1806 - 1884. Of West St Giles, Edinburgh; Free Church minister". National Galleries of Scotland. Retrieved 2019-01-15.
  11. Fasti Ecclesiastae Scoticana by Hew Scott
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