David Johnston (minister)
David Johnstone (1734–1824) was a Church of Scotland minister who served almost 60 years as minister of North Leith Parish Church. He was Chaplain in Ordinary to King George IV in Scotland.
Life
He was born in Arngask manse, near Glenfarg on 26 April 1734 the second son of Rev John Johnstone the local minister. He was the maternal grandson of Rev David Williamson of St Cuthbert's Church in Edinburgh (aka "Dainty Davie").[1]
He studied at
He was ordained as minister of
In 1793, with Rev
In 1815, when the new North Leith Parish Church was built around 1 km to the south-west, on Madeira Street, although preaching at the new church, he refused to leave his home in the old manse, which was built integral with the church. This frustrated redevelopment, resulting in the odd mox which now exists: a rebuilt structure to the west which was built as a mill in 1825, the manse of 1600, remodelled in 1720 and the church spire of 1675.[4]
He died in North Leith manse on 5 July 1824. He is buried in the small nearby graveyard on Coburg Street.[2]
Family
In July 1759 he married Elizabeth Todd (1735-1796) daughter of John Todd a Leith shipbuilder. Their children included:
- Lt John Johnstone HEICS (1761-1786) died on service in Bombay
- Gavin (1762-1773)
- Robert (1767-1768)
- Margaret (1769-1770)
- David (1770-1771)
- Henrietta (1772-1785)
- David (1773-1775)
- Elizabeth (1775-1869) married the Glasgow merchant William Penney
- Jane (1777-1818) married Robert MacBriar of Glasgow
Gladstone
- Kirk Session under Johnstone and a close friend.[5] His son John Gladstone was a member of the congregation and Rev Johnstone took a very strong interest in his career.[6]
Gladstones owned the land facing the church across the Water of Leith: living on King Street and with premises on Coalhill.[7]
Publications
- Dissertation on the Encouragement which Our Blessed Lord Gave to Little Children (1799)
Artistic recognition
A marble bust of Rev Johnston stands in the vestibule of the current North Leith Parish Church.[8]
References
- ^ Kay's Originals: David Johnston
- ^ a b c d Fasti Ecclesiae Scoticanae; by Hew Scott
- ^ "Our history".
- ^ Buildings of Scotland: Edinburgh; by Gifford, McWilliam and Walker
- ^ An appeal from Scotland. The Rev. Dr. David Johnston, minister of the gospel in North Leith, and Thomas Gladstones, treasurer, for themselves, and in the names and behalf of the other members of the kirk-session of the said parish, and Robert Strong and Son, their lessees, - - appellants. Mr. James Chalmers, merchant, and John Watson, cooper, both in Leith aforesaid, respondents. The appellants' case. 1781. Archived from the original on 14 September 2021. Retrieved 14 September 2021.
- ^ A Model Pastor of the Old School by D Johnstone and M E Foster
- ^ Edinburgh and Leith Post Office Directory 1800
- ^ Cassell's Old and New Edinburgh; vol. 6, p. 255