Chief Scottish Man: The Life & Ministry of Thomas Chalmers

Chief Scottish Man

The Life & Ministry of Thomas Chalmers

On Thursday 18 May 1843 the Rev. Dr. Thomas Chalmers walked out of St. Andrew’s Church in Edinburgh, along with two hundred and two other ministers and elders. These men were leaving the Church of Scotland’s General Assembly for the last time and within a few hours, Chalmers would be appointed as the first moderator of the newly constituted Free Church of Scotland.”

Thomas Chalmers (1780-1847) stood at the center of events that would change the face of the church in Scotland. Without his vision, organizational skills, and his ability to mobilize opinion, it is unlikely that the Free Church would have come into existence. Through his preaching the light of the gospel shone forth, and through his schools and work for the poor, lives were changed.

This new and updated biography tells the story of visionary thinker, minister, and preacher Thomas Chalmers and the many years of struggle for the spiritual independence of the Church of Scotland. It traces his journey from his childhood in a small fishing community to his academic prowess and calling into active gospel ministry. Discover the unforgettable story of the man who Thomas Carlyle called the “chief Scottish man of his time”.

Endorsements

“This book provides a fresh and accessible summary of the life of one of Scotland’s greatest sons – and a chief Scottish man! Sandy Finlayson honestly assesses the hugely significant influence Chalmers had on a very different Scotland from today – socially, economically, politically and spiritually.”

— Rev. Derek Lamont, Minister, St. Columba’s Free Church, Edinburgh

“This biography of Chalmers is written from a clear understanding of Chalmers’ Reformed faith and with strong historical insights. Never was there a time when the life and thought of Thomas Chalmers was more needed than ours today. Chalmers’ insistence on the theological integrity of the church and its commitment to biblical truth provides a necessary antidote for the wavering of many who claim to share Chalmers’ historical lineage. His social and economic teaching provides an important balance to those who equate theological conservatism with social conservatism. Professor Finlayson writes clearly and with keen insight into why Chalmers has cast such a long shadow over succeeding generations.” 

Rev. Dr. A Donald MacLeod, Research Professor of Church History, Tyndale University College and Seminary, Toronto, Ontario, Canada

Contents

1. Scotland in Transition
2. Early Life (1780-1803)
3. Kilmany (1803-1815)
4. The Tron Parish Glasgow (1815-1819)
5. St. John’s Parish Glasgow (1819-1823)
6. St. Andrew’s University (1823-1828)
7. The Scottish Church Crisis (1828-1842)
8. The Disruption (1842-1843)
9. The Free Church (1843-1847)
10. Preacher and Leader
11. Chief Scottish Man