His story provides a welcome counter to the modern fallacy that presents the Scottish Episcopal Church as the English Church. Whatever the ethnic origins of those who sit in its pews today, it was a very Scottish church whose genealogy goes back to Columba's Iona.Click here to read the full article.
Sunday, 30 June 2013
Alexander MacDonald: Bard Of The Gaelic Enlightenment
This newly published set of thirteen conference papers on the Jacobite poet Alexander MacDonald was reviewed in the Herald:
Friday, 28 June 2013
The Sad Story of James Lundin Cooper
Eleanor Harris is researching the 430 individuals who appear in the registers of Charlotte Episcopal Chapel, Edinburgh, 1794-1818. James Lundin Cooper of Kirkcaldy, and his unfortunate bride Sarah Brown, were amongst them...
In 1816, twenty-five-year-old James Lundin Cooper brought his bride Sarah Brown to Edinburgh to be married by Bishop Daniel Sandford in the stylish Charlotte Chapel. He was a writer in Kirkcaldy and she was the daughter of a local merchant. He appears a few years later practising his profession, administering the estate of a bankrupt businessman in Kirkcaldy.
Cooper was an ambitious man, and not content to remain merely a provincial lawyer he sought his fortune in business. By 1830 he was manager of the Kirkcaldy and London Shipping Company, which ran three ships and employed three Captains, rejoicing in the names of Moir, Morison and Mann. As the leading Manager (or vestryman) of the Episcopal Chapel in Kirkcaldy, he successfully charmed the energetic, young and dedicated priest Mr Marshall into replacing their decrepit old incumbent, even though the chapel could only offer a paltry £20 stipend. Meanwhile his family prospered: Sarah bore him three chidren, Elizabeth, Michael and Mary.
It quickly became clear to Rev Marshall, however, that Cooper and his fellow managers were running a racket, giving themselves huge discounts on seat-rents, keeping Marshall's salary low, and 'finding it convenient that the clause should fall into disuse' which stipulated that the whole congregation should choose their managers annually, preferring instead to appoint themselves for life.
When the priest tried to rectify the situation, the managers went to the bishop, accusing Marshall of immorality, neglect of duty, and (when this didn't work), insanity. This was a great mistake: Marshall was well-respected, and eloquent clergy weighed in to defend his character from this evident nonsense. Cooper, one of them reported, 'had the modesty to offer evidence to Bishop Torry that Mr Marshall is (or was) insane, and in his hand writing came forth a document in which that gentleman was charged with going to a theatre and dining out.' Cooper, who had been the man of education and status amongst the merchants and shoemakers on the vestry, was made to look very foolish by being represented in the lead actor in this farce.
Whereas other managers left the Episcopal Church altogether and began attending the Kirk -- although they still made a point of turning up to collect the contents of the collection plate, and chattering and laughing in the porch during Mr Marshall's service -- James does appear to have put his head down and attempted to make amends with the priest.
But it was too late. Whether it was divine judgement, the discrediting of his character, bad luck or similarly bad judgement in his business dealings, Cooper went bankrupt in 1836. In 1838 his daughters Elizabeth and Mary died, and the following year James himself went to his grave. His teenage son Michael only outlived him by two years. I don't know what happened to Sarah. Perhaps she remarried.
One could take various morals from this story. I suppose the first might be, don't accuse your priest of insanity if you meet him at the theatre.
Eleanor Harris.
In 1816, twenty-five-year-old James Lundin Cooper brought his bride Sarah Brown to Edinburgh to be married by Bishop Daniel Sandford in the stylish Charlotte Chapel. He was a writer in Kirkcaldy and she was the daughter of a local merchant. He appears a few years later practising his profession, administering the estate of a bankrupt businessman in Kirkcaldy.
Cooper was an ambitious man, and not content to remain merely a provincial lawyer he sought his fortune in business. By 1830 he was manager of the Kirkcaldy and London Shipping Company, which ran three ships and employed three Captains, rejoicing in the names of Moir, Morison and Mann. As the leading Manager (or vestryman) of the Episcopal Chapel in Kirkcaldy, he successfully charmed the energetic, young and dedicated priest Mr Marshall into replacing their decrepit old incumbent, even though the chapel could only offer a paltry £20 stipend. Meanwhile his family prospered: Sarah bore him three chidren, Elizabeth, Michael and Mary.
It quickly became clear to Rev Marshall, however, that Cooper and his fellow managers were running a racket, giving themselves huge discounts on seat-rents, keeping Marshall's salary low, and 'finding it convenient that the clause should fall into disuse' which stipulated that the whole congregation should choose their managers annually, preferring instead to appoint themselves for life.
When the priest tried to rectify the situation, the managers went to the bishop, accusing Marshall of immorality, neglect of duty, and (when this didn't work), insanity. This was a great mistake: Marshall was well-respected, and eloquent clergy weighed in to defend his character from this evident nonsense. Cooper, one of them reported, 'had the modesty to offer evidence to Bishop Torry that Mr Marshall is (or was) insane, and in his hand writing came forth a document in which that gentleman was charged with going to a theatre and dining out.' Cooper, who had been the man of education and status amongst the merchants and shoemakers on the vestry, was made to look very foolish by being represented in the lead actor in this farce.
Whereas other managers left the Episcopal Church altogether and began attending the Kirk -- although they still made a point of turning up to collect the contents of the collection plate, and chattering and laughing in the porch during Mr Marshall's service -- James does appear to have put his head down and attempted to make amends with the priest.
But it was too late. Whether it was divine judgement, the discrediting of his character, bad luck or similarly bad judgement in his business dealings, Cooper went bankrupt in 1836. In 1838 his daughters Elizabeth and Mary died, and the following year James himself went to his grave. His teenage son Michael only outlived him by two years. I don't know what happened to Sarah. Perhaps she remarried.
One could take various morals from this story. I suppose the first might be, don't accuse your priest of insanity if you meet him at the theatre.
Eleanor Harris.
One-Day Seminar, Perth, 12 October 2013
The next meeting of the Scottish Episcopal Historians network will take place on 12 October 2013 at Perth Cathedral.
Papers are invited on any aspect of Scottish Episcopal history.
If you would like to present a paper or attend, please contact eleanormharris@gmail.com
Papers are invited on any aspect of Scottish Episcopal history.
If you would like to present a paper or attend, please contact eleanormharris@gmail.com
Eleanor Harris
Eleanor Harris is working on a PhD, 'The Episcopal Congregation of Charlotte Chapel, Edinburgh, 1792-1818' at the University of Stirling. She is particularly interested in the influence of Episcopalianism in the political, intellectual and domestic culture of Scotland and beyond.
Eleanor is a keen public speaker whose audiences have included the Ecclesiastical History Society, Old Edinburgh Club, Scottish Festival of History, Sydney Smith Association and Georgian House Volunteers. She is also a founder-member of the Scottish Episcopal Historians and editor of this blog.
Her first peer-reviewed paper, 'Reconciliation and Revival: Bishop Daniel Sandford of Edinburgh, 1766-1830', is due to be published in Records of the Scottish Church History Society this year.
Eleanor can be contacted at eleanormharris@gmail.com. You can also keep up to date with her work @eleanormharris on twitter and facebook.
'In talent of the first rank; in inclination totally deficient'
John Mather, 1781-1850, First organist of St John's Episcopal Church, Edinburgh
If in Edinburgh around the time of Waterloo you passed a 'lusty man with spectacles' on the steep New Town streets, it might be John Mather, hurrying to visit his mistress, rehearse a chorus of 200 voices, give an organ lesson, escape an angry creditor or beat his unfortunate wife.
This lecture by Eleanor Harris marking the 200th anniversary of the concert series which launched his career introduces this colourful character of Regency Edinburgh. It explores the exalted aspirations and subsequent shambles in which John Mather launched the first Edinburgh Festival, the Choir of St John's, and the Edinburgh Institution for the Improvement of Sacred Music. It examines how the community of the New Town of Edinburgh dealt with a talented member who destroyed his own career through financial incompetence and domestic violence.
It includes a new edition by Anthony Mudge of John Mather's only extant composition, Hail to the Chief, a glee for three voices and keyboard, performed at the lecture.
Available for £4 from St John's Church Office, Princes Street, Edinburgh, 0131 229 7565, office@stjohns-edinburgh.org.uk
This lecture by Eleanor Harris marking the 200th anniversary of the concert series which launched his career introduces this colourful character of Regency Edinburgh. It explores the exalted aspirations and subsequent shambles in which John Mather launched the first Edinburgh Festival, the Choir of St John's, and the Edinburgh Institution for the Improvement of Sacred Music. It examines how the community of the New Town of Edinburgh dealt with a talented member who destroyed his own career through financial incompetence and domestic violence.
It includes a new edition by Anthony Mudge of John Mather's only extant composition, Hail to the Chief, a glee for three voices and keyboard, performed at the lecture.
Available for £4 from St John's Church Office, Princes Street, Edinburgh, 0131 229 7565, office@stjohns-edinburgh.org.uk
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