Andrew Gray

Andrew Gray (2 November 1805 – 10 March 1861), was a Scottish presbyterian divine. Life Gray was born in Aberdeen on 2 November 1805, the son of William Gray. He went first to a school kept by Gilbert, father of Forbes Falconer, and afterwards to Marischal College, where he graduated MA in 1824, and passed through the theological course (1824–8). He was licensed to preach by the Aberdeen presbytery 25 June 1829, and was ordained as minister of a chapel-of-ease at Woodside, near Aberdeen, on 1 Sept. 1831. Gray was from the first an orthodox evangelical, a vigorous supporter of reform in the Church of Scotland, and a pronounced enemy to all that savoured of Romish doctrine. He publicly defended the Anti-Patronage Society as early as 1825, and agitated for the Chapels Act, by which ministers of chapels-of-ease became members of presbyteries. In 1834 he was admitted under this act a member of the Aberdeen presbytery. On 14 July 1836, he was appointed minister of the West Church (one of three parishes contained within St John's in the city centre), Perth, where he remained until 1843. Gray was a very energetic leader in the controversies which resulted in the Disruption of 1843 and the foundation of the Free Church. A pamphlet by him, 'The present Conflict between Civil and Ecclesiastical Courts examined,’ Edinburgh, 1839, had a wide circulation and had great influence on the schism. On his secession from the Church of Scotland nearly all his congregation followed him to create the West Free Church Perth. His new church was opened 28 Oct. 1843.