James Pitt-Watson (9 November 1893 – 25 December 1962) was a Scottish minister and academic. He was Professor of

Practical Theology Practical theology is an academic discipline that examines and reflects on religious practices in order to understand the theology enacted in those practices and in order to consider how theological theory and theological practices can be more full ...

Glasgow University The University of Glasgow (abbreviated as ''Glas.'' in post-nominals; ) is a public research university in Glasgow, Scotland. Founded by papal bull in , it is the fourth-oldest university in the English-speaking world and one of Scotland's four ...

and served as

Moderator of the General Assembly of the Church of Scotland The moderator of the General Assembly of the Church of Scotland is the minister or elder chosen to moderate (chair) the annual General Assembly of the Church of Scotland, which is held for a week in Edinburgh every year. After chairing the Ass ...

in 1953. He has been described as an "ecclesiastical politician".

Life

James Pitt-Watson was born on 9 November 1893. He was educated at

George Heriot's School George Heriot's School is a private primary and secondary day school on Lauriston Place in the Lauriston area of Edinburgh, Scotland. In the early 21st century, it has more than 1600 pupils, 155 teaching staff, and 80 non-teaching staff. It was ...

, a

private school A private school or independent school is a school not administered or funded by the government, unlike a State school, public school. Private schools are schools that are not dependent upon national or local government to finance their fina ...

Edinburgh Edinburgh is the capital city of Scotland and one of its 32 Council areas of Scotland, council areas. The city is located in southeast Scotland and is bounded to the north by the Firth of Forth and to the south by the Pentland Hills. Edinburgh ...

, Scotland. He studied and trained for ministry at the

University of Edinburgh The University of Edinburgh (, ; abbreviated as ''Edin.'' in Post-nominal letters, post-nominals) is a Public university, public research university based in Edinburgh, Scotland. Founded by the City of Edinburgh Council, town council under th ...

. Pitt-Watson was ordained for the

Church of Scotland The Church of Scotland (CoS; ; ) is a Presbyterian denomination of Christianity that holds the status of the national church in Scotland. It is one of the country's largest, having 245,000 members in 2024 and 259,200 members in 2023. While mem ...

in 1920. He was minister of St. Mungo's Parish Church in

Alloa Alloa (Received Pronunciation ; Scottish pronunciation /ˈaloʊa/; , possibly meaning "rock plain") is a town in Clackmannanshire in the Central Lowlands of Scotland. It is on the north bank of the Forth at the spot where some say it ceases to ...

church in central Scotland from 1929 to 1946. During his time as Moderator he presented a Bible to Queen

Elizabeth II Elizabeth II (Elizabeth Alexandra Mary; 21 April 19268 September 2022) was Queen of the United Kingdom and other Commonwealth realms from 6 February 1952 until Death and state funeral of Elizabeth II, her death in 2022. ...

at her coronation, saying, "Here is wisdom, this is the royal law, these are the lively Oracles of God." Other duties as Moderator included opening the new church at Colinton Mains in south-west Edinburgh He died on Christmas Day, 25 December 1962. His obituary was written by the Very Rev A C Craig.

Family

He was father to Rev Prof Ian Pitt-Watson (1923-1995). Through his son Ian, he is grandfather to the Scottish businessman, David Pitt-Watson.

References

External links

Video of Pitt-Watson presenting a Bible to Elizabeth II during her coronation.
{{DEFAULTSORT:Pitt-Watson, James 1893 births 1962 deaths Moderators of the General Assembly of the Church of Scotland People educated at George Heriot's School Alumni of the University of Edinburgh 20th-century ministers of the Church of Scotland 20th-century Scottish Presbyterian ministers