James Pitt-Watson
{{Short description|Scottish minister and academic}}
{{Use dmy dates|date=April 2022}}
{{Infobox Christian leader
| type =
| honorific-prefix = The Very Reverend Professor
| name = James Pitt-Watson
| honorific-suffix =
| title = Moderator of the General Assembly
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| church = Church of Scotland
| elected =
| term = 1953 to 1954
| predecessor = George Johnstone Jeffrey
| successor = Ernest David Jarvis
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| birth_name =
| birth_date = 9 November 1893
| birth_place =
| death_date = {{death date and age|df=y|25 December 1962|9 November 1893}}
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| nationality = Scottish
| religion = Presbyterianism
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| occupation = Church minister and academic
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}}
James Pitt-Watson (9 November 1893 – 25 December 1962) was a Scottish minister and academic. He was Professor of Practical Theology at Glasgow University and served as Moderator of the General Assembly of the Church of Scotland in 1953.{{cite web|url=https://www.heraldscotland.com/news/12668306.the-rev-professor-ian-pitt-watson/|title=The Rev Professor Ian Pitt-Watson|website=HeraldScotland}} He has been described as an "ecclesiastical politician".Power without Glory: Ian Henderson 1967
Life
File:St. Mungo's Parish Church Alloa (2).jpg
James Pitt-Watson was born on 9 November 1893. He was educated at George Heriot's School, a private school in Edinburgh, Scotland. He studied and trained for ministry at the University of Edinburgh.{{cite web |title=Pitt-Watson, Very Rev. Prof. James |url=https://www.ukwhoswho.com/view/10.1093/ww/9780199540891.001.0001/ww-9780199540884-e-55678 |website=Who Was Who |publisher=Oxford University Press |access-date=2 June 2019 |language=en |doi=10.1093/ww/9780199540884.013.U55678 |date=1 December 2007|isbn=978-0-19-954089-1 }}
Pitt-Watson was ordained for the Church of Scotland in 1920. He was minister of St. Mungo's Parish Church in Alloa church in central Scotland from 1929 to 1946.{{cite web |url=http://www.hymntime.com/tch/bio/p/i/t/pitt-watson_i.htm |title=Ian Pitt-Watson |website=www.hymntime.com |access-date=17 January 2022 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140715045614/http://www.hymntime.com/tch/bio/p/i/t/pitt-watson_i.htm |archive-date=15 July 2014 |url-status=dead}}
During his time as Moderator he presented a Bible to Queen Elizabeth II at her coronation, saying, "Here is wisdom, this is the royal law, these are the lively Oracles of God."{{cite web |url=http://www.churchofscotland.org.uk/news_and_events/news/archive/articles/2012/moderator_joins_the_queen_at_official_diamond_jubilee_celebration |title=Moderator joins the Queen at official Diamond Jubilee celebration - Church of Scotland |website=www.churchofscotland.org.uk |access-date=17 January 2022 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20141024231241/http://www.churchofscotland.org.uk/news_and_events/news/archive/articles/2012/moderator_joins_the_queen_at_official_diamond_jubilee_celebration |archive-date=24 October 2014 |url-status=dead}} Other duties as Moderator included opening the new church at Colinton Mains in south-west Edinburgh{{cite web|url=https://fhpc.org.uk/about-us/history/|title=Fairmilehead Parish Church | History|website=fhpc.org.uk}}
He died on Christmas Day, 25 December 1962. His obituary was written by the Very Rev A C Craig.Glasgow Herald (newspaper) 27 December 1962
Family
He was father to Rev Prof Ian Pitt-Watson (1923-1995).{{cite web |title=Ian Pitt-Watson |url=https://hymnology.hymnsam.co.uk/i/ian-pitt-watson |website=The Canterbury Dictionary of Hymnology |publisher=Canterbury Press |access-date=2 June 2019}} Through his son Ian, he is grandfather to the Scottish businessman, David Pitt-Watson.
References
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External links
- [http://www.gettyimages.co.uk/detail/video/peers-james-pitt-watson-moderator-of-the-church-of-news-footage/509964646 Video of Pitt-Watson presenting a Bible to Elizabeth II during her coronation.]
{{Moderators of the General Assembly of the Church of Scotland}}
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Category:Moderators of the General Assembly of the Church of Scotland
Category:People educated at George Heriot's School
Category:Alumni of the University of Edinburgh