William Maxwell Hetherington
Encyclopedia
William Maxwell Hetherington (4 June 1803-23 May 1865) was a Scottish minister, poet and church historian.
. After a parish school education, he was intended for a career as gardener, but entered the University of Edinburgh
in 1822, Hetherington became minister of Torphichen
, Linlithgow
, in 1836; in the same year he married Jennie, daughter of the Rev. Dr. Meek of Hamilton.
In 1843 he adhered to the Free Church of Scotland, and in 1844 was appointed to a charge in St Andrews
. He became minister of Free St. Paul's Church, Edinburgh, in 1848; and was appointed professor of apologetics and systematic theology in the Free Church College, Glasgow, in 1857.
Besides his poems Hetherington published:
In 1844 Hetherington established the Free Church Magazine, which he edited for four years. He also contributed to religious periodicals, especially the British and Foreign Evangelical Review, and published sermons, poems, and some shorter religious works.
Life
He was born in the parish of Troqueer, near DumfriesDumfries
Dumfries is a market town and former royal burgh within the Dumfries and Galloway council area of Scotland. It is near the mouth of the River Nith into the Solway Firth. Dumfries was the county town of the former county of Dumfriesshire. Dumfries is nicknamed Queen of the South...
. After a parish school education, he was intended for a career as gardener, but entered the 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...
in 1822, Hetherington became minister of Torphichen
Torphichen
Torphichen is a small village located near Bathgate, West Lothian, Scotland. The placename may be Gaelic in origin, eg, "Tóir Féichín" , Tor Fithichean or British, eg, modern Welsh "tref fechan" .The village church is said to have been founded by St...
, Linlithgow
Linlithgow
Linlithgow is a Royal Burgh in West Lothian, Scotland. An ancient town, it lies south of its two most prominent landmarks: Linlithgow Palace and Linlithgow Loch, and north of the Union Canal....
, in 1836; in the same year he married Jennie, daughter of the Rev. Dr. Meek of Hamilton.
In 1843 he adhered to the Free Church of Scotland, and in 1844 was appointed to a charge in St Andrews
St Andrews
St Andrews is a university town and former royal burgh on the east coast of Fife in Scotland. The town is named after Saint Andrew the Apostle.St Andrews has a population of 16,680, making this the fifth largest settlement in Fife....
. He became minister of Free St. Paul's Church, Edinburgh, in 1848; and was appointed professor of apologetics and systematic theology in the Free Church College, Glasgow, in 1857.
Works
Before completing his studies for the church he published, in 1829, Twelve Dramatic Sketches' founded on the Pastoral Poetry of Scotland, with delineations of scenery and manners.Besides his poems Hetherington published:
- The Ministers Family, 1838, a popular evangelical work.
- History of the Church of Scotland from the Introduction of Christianity to the Period of the Disruption, May 18, 1843, 1843. A partisan book, it was preceded by an essay On the Principles and Constitution of the Church of Scotland, and reached a seventh edition in 1852.
- History of the Westminster Assembly of Divines, 1843. It was edited and annotated in 1878 by Robert Williamson.
In 1844 Hetherington established the Free Church Magazine, which he edited for four years. He also contributed to religious periodicals, especially the British and Foreign Evangelical Review, and published sermons, poems, and some shorter religious works.