William Hanna (minister)

Add links
Source: Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia.

Rev William Hanna
Skirling Parish Church

William Hanna (26 November 1808 – 24 May 1882) was a Scottish minister, known as a

theological writer and as the biographer of his father-in-law, Thomas Chalmers.[1]

The grave of Rev William Hanna, Grange Cemetery, Edinburgh

Life

Born in

Presbyterian Church of Ireland. He studied at the University of Glasgow, going on to the University of Edinburgh where he studied under Thomas Chalmers.[2]

In 1834 Hanna was licensed to preach the

Peebles-shire, near Biggar. During the ten-year controversy that preceded the Disruption of 1843, he took an active part on the side of Chalmers and his allies. He left the established Church of Scotland in 1843, joining the Free Church of Scotland, taking most of his congregation with him.[2]

Having resigned his charge at Skirling in 1848, Hanna removed permanently to

D.D. from the University of Edinburgh. In 1855 he was living at 4 Castle Terrace facing Edinburgh Castle.[4]

During his time in Edinburgh he founded the Mission Church at the Pleasance.[5]

In 1866 he retired from the active duties of the ministry, being replaced by Rev George Philip.[5]

He died in London, 24 May 1882.

Grange Cemetery
in south Edinburgh in the plot of his father-in-law, Thomas Chalmers (against the north wall).

Works

On the death of Thomas Chalmers in 1847, Hanna was asked to write his biography, and arranged a temporary exchange so he could reside for a time in Edinburgh. The Life of Chalmers came out in four volumes (1849–52), to which was added a fifth, containing extracts of Correspondence. Hanna also edited the Posthumous Works of Dr. Chalmers, in nine volumes. In 1847 he was appointed editor of the North British Review, but did not hold the post long.[2]

Hanna published (among other books):[2]

  • Wycliffe and the Huguenots, 1860 (originally two series of lectures at the Philosophical Institution, Edinburgh).
  • Martyrs of the Scottish Reformation.
  • Last Day of our Lord's Passion, 1862 (this volume reached a circulation of fifty thousand).
  • The Forty Days after the Resurrection, 1863.
  • The Earlier Years of our Lord, 1864.
  • The Passion Week, 1866.
  • Our Lord's Ministry in Galilee, 1868.
  • The Close of our Lord's Ministry, 1869.
  • The Resurrection of the Dead, 1872.

Hanna edited in 1858 a volume of Essays by Ministers of the Free Church of Scotland,

Thomas Erskine of Linlathen. He circulated privately a memoir of Alexander Keith Johnston.[2]

Hanna was also a contributor to the Sunday Magazine, Good Words, The Quiver and other periodicals.[2]

Family

While at East Kirkbride, Hanna married Anne Simson Chalmers (1813–1891), eldest daughter of Thomas Chalmers.[2]

They had a daughter, Matilda Grace Hanna (d. 1930), who married Alexander Watt Blackie.

Their son, Thomas Chalmers Hanna (1837–1910), was a chartered accountant.

Notes

  1. ^ Wylie, James Aitken (1881). Disruption worthies : a memorial of 1843, with an historical sketch of the free church of Scotland from 1843 down to the present time. Edinburgh: T. C. Jack. pp. 153–160. Retrieved 18 August 2018.
  2. ^ a b c d e f g h Stephen, Leslie; Lee, Sidney, eds. (1890). "Hanna, William" . Dictionary of National Biography. Vol. 24. London: Smith, Elder & Co.
  3. ^ Scott, Hew (1915). Fasti ecclesiae scoticanae; the succession of ministers in the Church of Scotland from the reformation. Vol. 1. Edinburgh: Oliver and Boyd. pp. 257-259. Retrieved 17 March 2019.Public Domain This article incorporates text from this source, which is in the public domain.
  4. ^ Edinburgh Post Office Directory 1855
  5. ^ a b Ewing, William Annals of the Free Church
Attribution

References

Retrieved from "https://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=William_Hanna_(minister)&oldid=1171173948"