Thomas Hardy (minister)
Encyclopedia
Thomas Hardy, was a Scottish Minister, Moderator of the General Assembly of the Church of Scotland
and Professor of Eccesiastical History
at Edinburgh University. He was better known for his political and social activities than his scholarship, though he was a popular and eloquent preacher. His academic lectures, it is said, were often met with applause. He was an enthusiastic supporter of the British Government during the troubled times of the French Revolution
, as was natural to one whose career had benefited from the patronage of Henry Dundas. He published nothing on Church History, his academic subject, but some of his sermons survive as do pamphlets on Moderation
in Religion (meaning support for the established order), the evils of the slave trade, the need for increase stipends for Ministers as well as polemics against the writings of the radical Thomas Paine
Career=
He was born in 1747 in Fife
, the son of the Minister of Culross
. After graduating from Edinburgh University he was licensed to preach by the Presbytery of Kirkcaldy
on 16 September 1772. He was presented to the Parish of Ballingry
by its Patron Sir Michael Malcolm and ordained there on 16 June 1774. He transferred to the High Kirk Parish in Edinburgh in 1784, and then to West St Giles, whose patron was the Town Council, in 1786. The influence of Henry Dundas secured him the Professorship of Ecclesiastical History at Edinburgh University, a post he held in conjunction with his Minister's position. He was awarded a Doctor of Divinity
by the University on 4 October 1788 and was later appointed Moderator of the General Assembly of the Church of Scotland
for the year 1793, which sent a loyal letter to the King "to express our zeal for the welfare of our country, and our affectionate regard for a Prince, who is the guardian of liberty, and the father of his people" and promised him, in typical Moderate
fashion, that "we (ie the Church) shall continue to cherish in the minds of the people loyalty to our gracious Sovereign, veneration for the British constitution, and obedience to the laws". They finished by calling upon "the god of battles" to bring speedy victory to the King's forces.http://www.british-history.ac.uk/report.aspx?compid=60195. In October same year, he became Chaplain in Ordinary to the King and Dean of the Chapel Royal. He was one of the founders of the Society for the Benefit of the Sons of the Clergy of the Church of Scotland in Edinburgh.
on 28 June 1780 and had five sons and four daughters, many of whom, died young, others pursuing careers (or marriages) related to the Church, the law, medicine and the military. He acquired estates at Navitie and Charlesfield in Fife. He died in 21 November 1798.
Publications=
Sources=
Moderator of the General Assembly of the Church of Scotland
The Moderator of the General Assembly of Church of Scotland is a Minister, Elder or Deacon of the Church of Scotland chosen to "moderate" the annual General Assembly of the Church of Scotland, which is held for a week in Edinburgh every May....
and Professor of Eccesiastical History
History of Christianity
The history of Christianity concerns the Christian religion, its followers and the Church with its various denominations, from the first century to the present. Christianity was founded in the 1st century by the followers of Jesus of Nazareth who they believed to be the Christ or chosen one of God...
at Edinburgh University. He was better known for his political and social activities than his scholarship, though he was a popular and eloquent preacher. His academic lectures, it is said, were often met with applause. He was an enthusiastic supporter of the British Government during the troubled times of the French Revolution
French Revolution
The French Revolution , sometimes distinguished as the 'Great French Revolution' , was a period of radical social and political upheaval in France and Europe. The absolute monarchy that had ruled France for centuries collapsed in three years...
, as was natural to one whose career had benefited from the patronage of Henry Dundas. He published nothing on Church History, his academic subject, but some of his sermons survive as do pamphlets on Moderation
Moderate Party (Scotland)
Moderates, in church terms is, normally, though not exclusively, used to refer to an important party of clerics in the Church of Scotland during the 18th century. They are often contrasted with Evangelicals, though this is very much a simplification...
in Religion (meaning support for the established order), the evils of the slave trade, the need for increase stipends for Ministers as well as polemics against the writings of the radical Thomas Paine
Thomas Paine
Thomas "Tom" Paine was an English author, pamphleteer, radical, inventor, intellectual, revolutionary, and one of the Founding Fathers of the United States...
Career=
He was born in 1747 in Fife
Fife
Fife is a council area and former county of Scotland. It is situated between the Firth of Tay and the Firth of Forth, with inland boundaries to Perth and Kinross and Clackmannanshire...
, the son of the Minister of Culross
Culross
The town of Culross, pronounced "Coo-ros", is a former royal burgh in Fife, Scotland.According to the 2006 estimate, the village has a population of 395...
. After graduating from Edinburgh University he was licensed to preach by the Presbytery of Kirkcaldy
Kirkcaldy
Kirkcaldy is a town and former royal burgh in Fife, on the east coast of Scotland. The town lies on a shallow bay on the northern shore of the Firth of Forth; SSE of Glenrothes, ENE of Dunfermline, WSW of Dundee and NNE of Edinburgh...
on 16 September 1772. He was presented to the Parish of Ballingry
Ballingry
Ballingry is a small town, in Fife, close to the border with Perth and Kinross, north of Lochgelly. It has an estimated population of 5,740 . The once separate villages of Ballingry, Lochore, Crosshill, and Glencraig are now somewhat joined together as the part of the Benarty area...
by its Patron Sir Michael Malcolm and ordained there on 16 June 1774. He transferred to the High Kirk Parish in Edinburgh in 1784, and then to West St Giles, whose patron was the Town Council, in 1786. The influence of Henry Dundas secured him the Professorship of Ecclesiastical History at Edinburgh University, a post he held in conjunction with his Minister's position. He was awarded a 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....
by the University on 4 October 1788 and was later appointed Moderator of the General Assembly of the Church of Scotland
Moderator of the General Assembly of the Church of Scotland
The Moderator of the General Assembly of Church of Scotland is a Minister, Elder or Deacon of the Church of Scotland chosen to "moderate" the annual General Assembly of the Church of Scotland, which is held for a week in Edinburgh every May....
for the year 1793, which sent a loyal letter to the King "to express our zeal for the welfare of our country, and our affectionate regard for a Prince, who is the guardian of liberty, and the father of his people" and promised him, in typical Moderate
Moderate Party (Scotland)
Moderates, in church terms is, normally, though not exclusively, used to refer to an important party of clerics in the Church of Scotland during the 18th century. They are often contrasted with Evangelicals, though this is very much a simplification...
fashion, that "we (ie the Church) shall continue to cherish in the minds of the people loyalty to our gracious Sovereign, veneration for the British constitution, and obedience to the laws". They finished by calling upon "the god of battles" to bring speedy victory to the King's forces.http://www.british-history.ac.uk/report.aspx?compid=60195. In October same year, he became Chaplain in Ordinary to the King and Dean of the Chapel Royal. He was one of the founders of the Society for the Benefit of the Sons of the Clergy of the Church of Scotland in Edinburgh.
Family
He married Agnes Young, daughter of the Minister of HuttonHutton
-United Kingdom:*Hutton Cranswick, Yorkshire, formed by the merger of two villages still referred to by their separate names*Hutton, Cumbria, a civil parish*Hutton, Essex, a former village, now a commuter suburb of Brentwood...
on 28 June 1780 and had five sons and four daughters, many of whom, died young, others pursuing careers (or marriages) related to the Church, the law, medicine and the military. He acquired estates at Navitie and Charlesfield in Fife. He died in 21 November 1798.
Publications=
- Views which Revelation exhibiteth of the general history of man, considered. A discourse, preached before his Grace, Charles Lord Cathcart, June 4. 1775.
- Principles of moderation. Addressed to the clergy of the popular interest in the Church of Scotland, 1782
- Benevolence of the Christian spirit, a sermon, preached in the Tron Church of Edinburgh, May 31. 1791. before the Society for the Benefit of the Sons of the Clergy of the Church of Scotland. To which is added an account of the objects 1791
- Addressed to the people, on the present state of affairs in Britain and in France. With observations on republican government, and disscussions [sic] of the principles advanced in the writings of Thomas Paine 1793
- Progress of the Christian religion. A sermon, preached before the Society in Scotland for propagating Christian Knowledge, at their anniversary meeting in the High Church of Edinburgh, Thursday, May 30, 1793, 1794
- Fidelity to the British constitution, the duty and interest of the people. A sermon, preached in the New North Church, Edinburgh, on Thursday, February 27. 1794, being the day appointed by His Majesty for a general fast. 1794
- Importance of religion to national prosperity. A sermon, preached in the High Church of Edinburgh, May 15. 1794, at the opening of the General Assembly of the Church of Scotland, 1794
Sources=
- Emerson, Roger L Academic patronage in the Scottish enlightenment: Glasgow, Edinburgh and St Andrews Universities Edinburgh University Press 2007 http://books.google.co.uk/books?id=lBgq1_LgvJEC&dq=Hardy+of+Navitie&source=gbs_navlinks_s
- Scott, Hew Fasti Ecclesiae Scoticanae, The succession of Scottish ministers in the Church of Scotland from the Reformation Volume I & II Edinburgh 1915