Thomas Chalmers Collection

Bound volume of 43 letters and notes from Church of Scotland minister and social reformer Thomas Chalmers (1780-1847) to William Buchanan of Glasgow.

In his ecclesiastical career, Chalmers was a minister at:

• Kilmany (Fife), (1803-1815)
• the Tron Church in Glasgow, (1815-1820)
• St John's Church in Glasgow, (1820-1823)

He also held several academic posts:

• Professor of Moral Philosophy at the University of St Andrews, (1823-1828)
• Professor of Divinity at the University of Edinburgh, (1828-1843)
• Principal of the Free Church College, Edinburgh, 1843-1847

As Moderator of the General Assembly of the Church of Scotland, Chalmers had a leading role in the 1843 Disruption, which led to the formation of the Free Church of Scotland.

The volume was donated by Buchanan's great-granddaughter, Mrs H.L. Tidy.

Other relevant letters may also be found in the collection of correspondence at MS Gen 520.

How to find material in the Thomas Chalmers collection

• See MS Gen 1036 for details of the bound volume (click 'list collection content' for item details)
• See MS Gen 520 for other relevant items
• Alternatively, use the manuscripts search to locate items