List of Moderators of the General Assembly of the Church of Scotland is a complete list of Moderators of the General Assembly of the Church of Scotland from the Reformation to the present day. The location of the parish or other post during the Moderator's year in office is listed in brackets.
Since 1714 the General Assembly has normally been held annually every May. Moderators-designate are nominated in the October of the previous year; a formal vote is taken at start of the General Assembly in May, then the new Moderator takes the chair. They holds office for one year; their final act is to formally open the following year's General Assembly and preside over the formal election of a successor.
The Moderator of the current year, while serving their term as Moderator, is styled "The Right Reverend", while past Moderators are styled "The Very Reverend".[1]
17th century
No General Assembly until 1638
- 1638, 1641 and 1643 Alexander Henderson (Leuchars, later Edinburgh)
- 1639, 1652 and (?)1653 David Dickson (Irvine, Ayrshire)
- 1640 Andrew Ramsay (Edinburgh)
- 1642, 1645, 1647, 1649, 1651 Robert Douglas (Edinburgh)
- 1644 James Bonar (Maybole, Ayrshire)
- 1646 Robert Blair (St Andrews)
- 1647 Robert Douglas (Edinburgh)
- 1648 George Gillespie (Edinburgh)
- 1650 Andrew Cant (Aberdeen)
- 1651 Robert Douglas
- 1652 Gabriel Cunningham (Dunlop, Irvine) (or David Dickson?[4])
No General Assembly after 1653 until the restoration of Presbyterianism in 1690. From 1662 to 1673 Walter Bruce of Inverkeithing was "Constant Moderator.[5] Patrick Sympson was Constant Moderator from an unknown date to Spring 1690.[6] Gabriel Cunningham acted as Interim Moderator in 1690 (as though there had been no gap) until Kennedie was chosen to succeed him.
Post Disruption
The "Disruption" in the Church of Scotland took place in 1843, with approximately one-third of the ministers leaving to form the Free Church of Scotland. The Moderator in this critical year was Duncan Macfarlan (High Church of Glasgow)
- 1844 John Lee (Principal, University of Edinburgh)
- 1845 Alexander Hill (Professor of Divinity, University of Glasgow)
- 1846 James Paull (Tullynessle)
- 1847 John Paul (Edinburgh: West Kirk)
- 1848 George Buist (Professor of Church History, University of St Andrews)
- 1849 Alexander Lockhart Simpson (Kirknewton)
- 1850 John Graham of Balfunning (Killearn)
- 1851 John Macleod (Morvern)
- 1852 Lewis William Forbes (Boharm)
- 1853 James Barr (Glasgow: St Enoch's)
- 1854 James Grant (Edinburgh: St Mary's)
- 1855 Andrew Bell (Linlithgow)
- 1856 John Crombie (Scone)
- 1857 James Robertson FRSE (Professor of Church History, University of Edinburgh)
- 1858 Matthew Leishman (Govan)
- 1859 Prof John Cook (Professor of Church History, University of St Andrews)
- 1860 James Maitland (Kells, Dumfries and Galloway)
- 1861 Colin Smith (Glenaray near Inveraray)
- 1862 James Bisset (Bourtie)
- 1863 James Craik (Glasgow: St George's)
- 1864 William Robinson Pirie (Principal, University of Aberdeen)
- 1865 James Macfarlane FRSE (Duddingston, near Edinburgh)
- 1866 John Cook (Haddington)
- 1867 Thomas Jackson Crawford FRSE, (Professor of Divinity, University of Edinburgh)
- 1868 James Strachan Barty (Bendochy)
- 1869 Norman MacLeod (Glasgow: The Barony)
- 1870 George Ritchie (Jedburgh)
- 1871 Robert Horne Stevenson (Edinburgh: St George's)
- 1872 Robert Jamieson (Glasgow: St Paul's)
- 1873 Robert Gillan (Inchinnan)
- 1874 Samuel Trail (Professor of Divinity, University of Aberdeen)
- 1875 James Sellar (Aberlour)
- 1876 George Cook (Borgue)
- 1877 Kenneth Macleay Phin (Convener of the Home Mission Committee)
- 1878 John Tulloch (Principal, St Mary's College, University of St Andrews)
- 1879 James Crystal (Auchinleck)
- 1880 Archibald Watson (St Mary's, Dundee)
- 1881 James Smith (Cathcart)
- 1882 William Milligan (Professor of Biblical Criticism, University of Aberdeen)
- 1883 John Rankine (Sorn)
- 1884 Peter MacKenzie (Urquhart in Presbytery of Dingwall)
- 1885 Alexander Ferrier Mitchell (Professor of Church History, University of UniversSt Andrews)
- 1886 John Cunningham (Principal, St Mary's College, University of St Andrews)
- 1887 George Hutchison (Banchory-Ternan)
- 1888 William Henry Gray (Liberton)
- 1889 Paton James Gloag (Galashiels)
- 1890 A. K. H. Boyd (St Andrews)
- 1891 James MacGregor (Edinburgh: St Cuthbert's)
- 1892 Archibald Charteris (University of Edinburgh)
- 1893 J. Marshall Lang (Glasgow: The Barony)
- 1894 Robert Herbert Story (Principal of the University of Glasgow)
- 1895 Donald Macleod (Glasgow: Park Church) after post declined by Robert Flint[10]
- 1896 Archibald Scott (Edinburgh: St George's)
- 1897 William Mair (Earlston)
- 1898 Thomas Leishman (Linton)
- 1899 John Pagan (Bothwell)
- 1900 Norman Macleod FRSE (Inverness)
20th century
The union of the Church of Scotland and the United Free Church of Scotland occurred in 1929, the newly reunited church henceforth being known as the Church of Scotland.
- 1929 John White (Glasgow: The Barony)(also served in 1925)
- 1930 Andrew Nisbet Bogle (Joint-Secretary, Church and Ministry Department)
- 1931 John Anderson Graham CIE (Kalimpong, India) (Founder of Dr. Graham's Homes)
- 1932 Hugh Ross Mackintosh (Professor of Dogmatics, University of Edinburgh)
- 1933 Lauchlan MacLean Watt (Glasgow Cathedral)
- 1934 Peter Donald Thomson (Glasgow: Kelvinside (Botanic Gardens))
- 1935 Marshall B. Lang (Whittingehame)
- 1936 Daniel Lamont (Professor of Practical Theology, New College, Edinburgh)
- 1937 Dugald MacFarlane (Kingussie)
- 1938 James Black (Edinburgh: St George's West)
- 1939 Archibald Main (Glasgow)
- 1940 James Rae Forgan (Ayr: Trinity UF)
- 1941 J. H. Cockburn (Dunblane Cathedral)
- 1942 Charles William Gray Taylor CBE (Edinburgh: St George's)
- 1943 John Baillie (Professor of Divinity, University of Edinburgh)
- 1944 Edward James Hagan OBE (Edinburgh: Warrender)
- 1945 A. J. Campbell (Evie, Orkney)
- 1946 John McKenzie CIE (former Principal, The Wilson College, Bombay, India)
- 1947 Matthew Stewart (Hamilton Old and Auchingramont)
- 1948 Alexander Macdonald (Glasgow: St Columba)
- 1949 George Simpson Duncan OBE (University of St Andrews)
- 1950 Hugh Watt (University of Edinburgh)
- 1951 William White Anderson MC (Edinburgh: St Cuthbert's)
- 1952 George Johnstone Jeffrey (Glasgow: Sherbrooke St Gilbert's)
- 1953 James Pitt-Watson (Glasgow)
- 1954 Ernest David Jarvis (Glasgow: Wellington)
- 1955 G. D. Henderson FBA (University of Aberdeen)
- 1956 Robert F. V. Scott (St Columba's Church, London)
- 1957 George MacLeod MC (Iona Community) (Peerage in 1967: Lord MacLeod of Fuinary)
- 1958 John A. Fraser MBE (Hamilton Old and Auchingramont)
- 1959 Robert Henry Wishart Shepherd (Lovedale (South Africa))
- 1960 J. H. S. Burleigh (University of Edinburgh)
- 1961 Archibald Campbell Craig MC (University of Glasgow)
- 1962 Nevile Davidson (Glasgow Cathedral)
- 1963 James Stuart Stewart (Edinburgh)
- 1964 Duncan Fraser (Invergordon)
- 1965 Archibald Watt STM (Edzell and Lethnot)
- 1966 Leonard Small OBE (Edinburgh: St Cuthbert's)
- 1967 William Roy Sanderson (Stenton linked with Whittinghame)
- 1968 James Boyd Longmuir (Principal Clerk to the General Assembly)
- 1969 Thomas Moffat Murchison (Glasgow: St Columba Summertown)
- 1970 Hugh O. Douglas KCVO CBE (Dundee: St Mary's)
- 1971 Andrew Herron (Clerk to the Presbytery of Glasgow)
- 1972 Ronald Selby Wright CVO FRSE FSAScot (Edinburgh: Canongate)
- 1973 George T. H. Reid MC (Aberdeen: Langstane)
- 1974 David Steel (Linlithgow: St Michael's) (Father of Lord Steel of Aikwood)
- 1975 James Gunn Matheson (Portree (Isle of Skye))
- 1976 Thomas F. Torrance MBE FRSE (University of Edinburgh)
- 1977 John Rodger Gray VRD (Dunblane Cathedral)
- 1978 Peter Brodie (Alloa: St Mungo's)
- 1979 Robert A. S. Barbour KCVO MC (University of Aberdeen)
- 1980 William Bryce Johnston (Edinburgh: Colinton)
- 1981 Andrew Beveridge Doig (National Bible Society of Scotland)
- 1982 John McIntyre CVO FRSE (University of Edinburgh)
- 1983 J. Fraser McLuskey MC (London: St Columba's)
- 1984 John M. K. Paterson (Milngavie: St Paul's)
- 1985 David M. B. A. Smith (Logie, by Stirling)
- 1986 Robert Craig CBE (Jerusalem (Emeritus))
- 1987 Duncan Shaw Bundesverdienstkreuz (Edinburgh: Craigentinny St Christopher's)
- 1988 James A. Whyte (University of St Andrews)
- 1989 William J. G. McDonald (Edinburgh: Mayfield)
- 1990 Robert Davidson FRSE (University of Glasgow)
- 1991 William B. R. Macmillan (Dundee: St Mary's)
- 1992 Hugh R. Wyllie FCIBS (Hamilton: Old Parish Church)
- 1993 James L. Weatherhead CBE (Principal Clerk to the General Assembly)
- 1994 James A. Simpson (Dornoch Cathedral)
- 1995 James Harkness KCVO CB OBE (Chaplain General of Her Majesty's Forces (Emeritus))
- 1996 John H. McIndoe (London: St Columba's linked with Newcastle: St Andrew's)
- 1997 Alexander McDonald (General Secretary of the CofS Board of Ministry)
- 1998 Alan Main (University of Aberdeen)
- 1999 John B. Cairns (Dumbarton: Riverside)
- 2000 Andrew McLellan CBE (Edinburgh: St Andrew's & St George's)