John Cook (clergyman)
Encyclopedia
John Cook was a Presbyterian Church in Canada
minister and educator from Quebec.
He was born in Sanquhar
, Scotland
, and educated at University of Glasgow
and University of Edinburgh
. He served as a minister in the Church of Scotland
, and was ordained in December 1835 in Cardross, and designated minister of St. Andrew's Presbyterian Church, Quebec City
(under the Colonial Committee) and arrived in Canada East
in April 1836.
He was Minister of St Andrew's Church from 1836–1883, and was the founding Moderator of the General Assembly
of the Presbyterian Church in Canada
in June 1875. He had also served as Moderator of the Church of Scotland's Canada Synod in 1838, not long after his arrival. Despite being under the tutelage of Free Church
leader Professor Thomas Chalmers
at Edinburgh, Cook remained with the Established Church in June 1844. He was asked to moderate the remainder of that Synod meeting in Kingston, following the defection of Moderator Mark Young Stark.
Cook also promoted education, started schools, and was associated with the early days of both Queen's College at Kingston, Canada West
and McGill University
. He was principal of Morrin College
in Quebec City for 31 of its 40 years.
In June 1975, Canada Post
honoured the Centenary of the Presbyterian Church in Canada with the issue of a postage stamp in honour of Cook. He was awarded the Doctor of Divinity
in 1838 from the University of Glasgow, and the LLD from Queen's in 1880, following his term as Chancellor.
Presbyterian Church in Canada
The Presbyterian Church in Canada is the name of a Protestant Christian church, of presbyterian and reformed theology and polity, serving in Canada under this name since 1875, although the United Church of Canada claimed the right to the name from 1925 to 1939...
minister and educator from Quebec.
He was born in Sanquhar
Sanquhar
Sanquhar is a town on the River Nith in Dumfries and Galloway, Scotland. It lies north of Thornhill and west of Moffat. It is a Royal Burgh.Sanquhar is notable for its tiny post office , claimed to be the oldest working post office in the world...
, Scotland
Scotland
Scotland is a country that is part of the United Kingdom. Occupying the northern third of the island of Great Britain, it shares a border with England to the south and is bounded by the North Sea to the east, the Atlantic Ocean to the north and west, and the North Channel and Irish Sea to the...
, and educated at University of Glasgow
University of Glasgow
The University of Glasgow is the fourth-oldest university in the English-speaking world and one of Scotland's four ancient universities. Located in Glasgow, the university was founded in 1451 and is presently one of seventeen British higher education institutions ranked amongst the top 100 of the...
and University of Edinburgh
University of Edinburgh
The University of Edinburgh, founded in 1583, is a public research university located in Edinburgh, the capital of Scotland, and a UNESCO World Heritage Site. The university is deeply embedded in the fabric of the city, with many of the buildings in the historic Old Town belonging to the university...
. He served as a minister in the Church of Scotland
Church of Scotland
The Church of Scotland, known informally by its Scots language name, the Kirk, is a Presbyterian church, decisively shaped by the Scottish Reformation....
, and was ordained in December 1835 in Cardross, and designated minister of St. Andrew's Presbyterian Church, Quebec City
St. Andrew's Church (Quebec City)
St. Andrew's Presbyterian Church, Quebec City is a Presbyterian Church in Canada congregation in the Upper Town of Quebec City.The congregation's roots began with the British conquest of Quebec at the Plains of Abraham in 1759. Under the leadership of Church of Scotland Chaplain Robert MacPherson...
(under the Colonial Committee) and arrived in Canada East
Quebec
Quebec or is a province in east-central Canada. It is the only Canadian province with a predominantly French-speaking population and the only one whose sole official language is French at the provincial level....
in April 1836.
He was Minister of St Andrew's Church from 1836–1883, and was the founding Moderator of the General Assembly
Moderator of the General Assembly
The Moderator of the General Assembly is the chairperson of a General Assembly, the highest court of a presbyterian or reformed church. Kirk Sessions and Presbyteries may also style the chairperson as moderator....
of the Presbyterian Church in Canada
Presbyterian Church in Canada
The Presbyterian Church in Canada is the name of a Protestant Christian church, of presbyterian and reformed theology and polity, serving in Canada under this name since 1875, although the United Church of Canada claimed the right to the name from 1925 to 1939...
in June 1875. He had also served as Moderator of the Church of Scotland's Canada Synod in 1838, not long after his arrival. Despite being under the tutelage of Free Church
Free Church of Scotland (1843-1900)
The Free Church of Scotland is a Scottish denomination which was formed in 1843 by a large withdrawal from the established Church of Scotland in a schism known as the "Disruption of 1843"...
leader Professor Thomas Chalmers
Thomas Chalmers
Thomas Chalmers , Scottish mathematician, political economist, divine and a leader of the Free Church of Scotland, was born at Anstruther in Fife.-Overview:...
at Edinburgh, Cook remained with the Established Church in June 1844. He was asked to moderate the remainder of that Synod meeting in Kingston, following the defection of Moderator Mark Young Stark.
Cook also promoted education, started schools, and was associated with the early days of both Queen's College at Kingston, Canada West
Queen's University
Queen's University, , is a public research university located in Kingston, Ontario, Canada. Founded on 16 October 1841, the university pre-dates the founding of Canada by 26 years. Queen's holds more more than of land throughout Ontario as well as Herstmonceux Castle in East Sussex, England...
and McGill University
McGill University
Mohammed Fathy is a public research university located in Montreal, Quebec, Canada. The university bears the name of James McGill, a prominent Montreal merchant from Glasgow, Scotland, whose bequest formed the beginning of the university...
. He was principal of Morrin College
Morrin College
Morrin College, the first anglophone institute of higher education in Quebec City, Quebec, Canada flourished between the years 1862 and 1902. It was founded following an important bequest from Dr. Joseph Morrin, former city mayor and prominent doctor. The College initially occupied rooms rented...
in Quebec City for 31 of its 40 years.
In June 1975, Canada Post
Canada Post
Canada Post Corporation, known more simply as Canada Post , is the Canadian crown corporation which functions as the country's primary postal operator...
honoured the Centenary of the Presbyterian Church in Canada with the issue of a postage stamp in honour of Cook. He was awarded the Doctor of Divinity
Doctor of Divinity
Doctor of Divinity is an advanced academic degree in divinity. Historically, it identified one who had been licensed by a university to teach Christian theology or related religious subjects....
in 1838 from the University of Glasgow, and the LLD from Queen's in 1880, following his term as Chancellor.
External links
- Cook in the Dictionary of Canadian BiographyDictionary of Canadian BiographyThe Dictionary of Canadian Biography is a dictionary of biographical entries for individuals who have contributed to the history of Canada. The DCB, which was initiated in 1959, is a collaboration between the University of Toronto and Université Laval...
- The Rev John Cook