Mary Lundie Duncan (26 April 1814 – 5 January 1840) was a Scottish poet and hymnwriter from Kelso, Scotland.

Family

Mary Lundie Duncan was the eldest daughter of Rev. Robert Lundie, minister of Kelso, and Mary Grey. Her sister was the hymnwriter Jane Lundie Bonar. A brother, George Archibald Lundie, went with a missionary band to

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, hoping that the climate might restore his failing health, but died in less than three years. There were two other brothers, Cornelius, engineer and railway manager of a branch in

South Wales South Wales ( ) is a Regions of Wales, loosely defined region of Wales bordered by England to the east and mid Wales to the north. Generally considered to include the Historic counties of Wales, historic counties of Glamorgan and Monmouthshire ( ...

, and Robert, minister of the Presbyterian Church,

Fairfield, Liverpool Fairfield is an area of Liverpool, in Merseyside, England, encompassing streets between Tuebrook and Kensington and stretching to Old Swan. It consists of a variety of houses; there are some traditional red-brick terraces, larger Victorian vil ...

. Born in the old

manse A manse () is a clergy house inhabited by, or formerly inhabited by, a minister, usually used in the context of Presbyterian, Methodist, Baptist and other Christian traditions. Ultimately derived from the Latin ''mansus'', "dwelling", from '' ...

by the

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, located by the Abbey, she spent her early years in Kelso. At the age of 16, sent to school in London. During her time in London, she attended meetings of religious societies, hearing from some of the great philanthropists of the era such as

William Wilberforce William Wilberforce (24 August 1759 – 29 July 1833) was a British politician, philanthropist, and a leader of the movement to abolish the Atlantic slave trade. A native of Kingston upon Hull, Yorkshire, he began his political career in 1780 ...

, Henry Brougham and

Charles Buxton Charles Buxton (18 November 1822 – 10 August 1871) was an English brewer, philanthropist, writer and member of Parliament. Personal life and architectural legacy Buxton was born on 18 November 1822 in Cromer, Norfolk, the third son of Sir T ...

. Upon her father’s death in April 1832, the family left the manse in Kelso, and moved to

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 ...

. She joined the congregation of her uncle Dr. Henry Grey who had an influence upon her spiritual views. In 1834 she became engaged to Rev. W. Wallace Duncan (1888, p. 65), the youngest son of Rev. Henry Duncan, D.D., founder of the Savings Bank movement and minister in Ruthwell and also the second husband of Mary’s mother, Mary Grey. W. Wallace Duncan became minister of

Cleish Cleish is a rural hamlet off the B9097 between Crook of Devon and the M90 motorway, three miles south-west of Kinross in central Scotland. It lies in the historic county of Kinross-shire. At the last census (2011), the population of the civil ...

, Kinross-shire. They married in July 1836. As a minister’s wife, Duncan carried out parochial work such as visiting the poor and teaching classes to young girls. The couple had two children – Mary (married to Rev. Alex. Campbell of Lockerbie) and Henry (a minister of the Spanish Protestant Church).

Death

In December 1839 Duncan developed a chill which resulted in a brief illness. She died on 5 January 1840. After her death, her mother Mary Grey published a biography ''Memoir of Mrs. Mary Lundie Duncan'', which included passages of Duncan’s diaries, correspondence and poems. The American Tract Society published an abridged version in 1851 which caused some discussion as it omitted Duncan’s views on the abolition of slavery and infant baptism. Duncan is buried in the graveyard at Cleish parish church, where there is also a plaque dedicated to her in the chancel. It was at the Cleish manse that Duncan wrote the hymn ''Jesus, tender Shepherd, hear me''.

Works

Duncan wrote poetry and hymns for her children. Some of her works are published in the ''Memoir'' by her mother and in posthumous collection, ''Rhymes for my children'' (1842). Duncan also contributed an article ''The orphan's stay'' to The Christian keepsake and missionary annual, 1835. (1835)

Jesus, tender Shepherd, hear me

Jesus, tender Shepherd, hear me, Bless Thy little lamb tonight; Through the darkness be Thou near me, Watch my sleep till morning light...

References

{{DEFAULTSORT:Duncan, Mary Lundie 1814 births 1840 deaths Scottish hymnwriters British women hymnwriters People from Kelso, Scottish Borders Writers from the Scottish Borders 19th-century Scottish poets Scottish women poets