Walter Chalmers Smith
Encyclopedia
Walter Chalmers Smith was a hymnist, poet and minister of the Free Church of Scotland
and is chiefly remembered for his hymn "Immortal, Invisible, God Only Wise
".
and attended Marischal College
at the University of Aberdeen
and New College, Edinburgh
.
He received the degrees of D.D. and LL.D. He was mentioned in Lord Adam Gifford
's will.
The Free Church of Scotland elected him its moderator during its Jubilee year in 1893. He was a distinguished preacher and a man of catholic sympathies.
. Among his works are The Bishop's Walk (1861), Olrig Grange (1872), Hilda among the Broken Gods (1878), Raban
(1880), Kildrostan (1884), and A Heretic (1890). Some of these were written under the names of "Orwell" and Hermann Kunst.
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"...
and is chiefly remembered for his hymn "Immortal, Invisible, God Only Wise
Immortal, Invisible, God Only Wise
Immortal, Invisible, God Only Wise is a Christian hymn with words by Walter Chalmers Smith, usually sung to the tune, "St Denio," originally a Welsh ballad tune, which became a hymn in Caniadau y Cyssegr edited by John Roberts of Henllan...
".
Life
He was born in AberdeenAberdeen
Aberdeen is Scotland's third most populous city, one of Scotland's 32 local government council areas and the United Kingdom's 25th most populous city, with an official population estimate of ....
and attended Marischal College
Marischal College
Marischal College is a building and former university in the centre of the city of Aberdeen in north-east Scotland. The building is owned by the University of Aberdeen and used for ceremonial events...
at the University of Aberdeen
University of Aberdeen
The University of Aberdeen, an ancient university founded in 1495, in Aberdeen, Scotland, is a British university. It is the third oldest university in Scotland, and the fifth oldest in the United Kingdom and wider English-speaking world...
and New College, Edinburgh
New College, Edinburgh
New College was opened in 1846 as a college of the Free Church of Scotland, later of the United Free Church of Scotland, and from the 1930s has been the home of the School of Divinity of the University of Edinburgh...
.
He received the degrees of D.D. and LL.D. He was mentioned in Lord Adam Gifford
Adam Gifford
Adam Gifford, Lord Gifford FRSE was a Scottish advocate and judge.He was a Radical in politics, and expected no appointment from Government, until he was made an advocate depute in 1861, under Palmerston; he prosecuted Jessie McLauchlan in the 1863 Sandyford murder case...
's will.
Service
He was ordained pastor of the Chadwell Street Scottish Church, Pentonville, Islington, London, on Christmas Day, 1850. He later served at:- Roxburgh Free Church, Deinburgh
- Orwell Free Church, Milnathort, Kinrossshire(1853–1858)
- Free Tron Church, GlasgowSt George's-Tron ChurchThe St George's-Tron Church in Glasgow, Scotland, commonly known simply as "The Tron", is a Church of Scotland parish church in Glasgow's city centre, located in Nelson Mandela Place near Queen Street Station...
- Reid Memorial Church, EdinburghEdinburghEdinburgh is the capital city of Scotland, the second largest city in Scotland, and the eighth most populous in the United Kingdom. The City of Edinburgh Council governs one of Scotland's 32 local government council areas. The council area includes urban Edinburgh and a rural area...
- Free High Church, Edinburgh (1874–1884)
The Free Church of Scotland elected him its moderator during its Jubilee year in 1893. He was a distinguished preacher and a man of catholic sympathies.
Published works
He attained considerable reputation as a poetPoet
A poet is a person who writes poetry. A poet's work can be literal, meaning that his work is derived from a specific event, or metaphorical, meaning that his work can take on many meanings and forms. Poets have existed since antiquity, in nearly all languages, and have produced works that vary...
. Among his works are The Bishop's Walk (1861), Olrig Grange (1872), Hilda among the Broken Gods (1878), Raban
Raban
Raban or Rabana is one-sided traditional drum type played with the hands, used in Sri Lanka. The body of these drums are made by carving the Jack or Vitex trees. The skin used is that of a goat. There are two types of Rabans as Hand Raban and Bench Raban.* Hand Raban is about one foot in diameter...
(1880), Kildrostan (1884), and A Heretic (1890). Some of these were written under the names of "Orwell" and Hermann Kunst.
Further reading
External links
- Biography at the Cyber Hymnal;