James Rae Forgan
{{Short description|Scottish minister}}
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James Rae Forgan (1876-1966) was a Scottish minister who served as Moderator of the General Assembly of the Church of Scotland in 1940.
Life
File:The grave of James Rae Forgan, Dean Cemetery, Edinburgh.jpg, Edinburgh]]
He was born in Perth on 25 December 1876.
In 1898 he began studying divinity at the University of Edinburgh, graduating MA in 1902.{{cite web|url=http://collections.ed.ac.uk/alumni/record/67095|title=Forgan, James Rae}}
He served as minister to Uddingston Chalmers United Free Church until 1918, then moving to St Stephens West Church in Broughty Ferry. In 1921 he went to Ayr Trinity United Free Church.{{cite web|url=http://www.ststephensandwest.org.uk/Past_Ministers.html|title=St Stephens and West - Past Ministers of the Church}}
In the First World War he served as honorary chaplain to the forces.{{cite web|url=https://livesofthefirstworldwar.org/lifestory/2509528|title=James Rae Forgan - WW1 Memorial and Life Story}} In 1929 the United Free Church re-amalgamated with the established Church of Scotland. Forgan remained in Ayr (thereafter known as St Columbas) and served as moderator to the entire church in 1940 before retiring in 1946.
He died on 14 December 1966 shortly before his 90th birthday. He is buried with his wife in the modern north extension to Dean Cemetery on Queensferry Road in Edinburgh. The grave lies to the east, not far from the entrance on an east–west path.
Family
He was married to Essex Helen Gray (1878–1944) who predeceased him by over 20 years. A stained glass window in Ayr Trinity Church (now known as St Columbas) is dedicated to her memory.{{cite web|url=http://www.gravestonephotos.com/public/gravedetails.php?grave=70622&scrwidth=800|title=Essex Helen Gray grave monument details|first=Charles|last=Sale}}
References
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{{Moderators of the General Assembly of the Church of Scotland}}
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Category:Alumni of the University of Edinburgh
Category:Moderators of the General Assembly of the Church of Scotland
Category:Ministers of the United Free Church of Scotland
Category:20th-century ministers of the Church of Scotland
Category:20th-century Scottish Presbyterian ministers
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