James Mearns

MEARNS, James. b. Coldstream, Berwickshire, 1855; d. Rushden, Northamptonshire, 21 June 1922. His father was a minister of the United Presbyterian Church, a seceding body from the Church of Scotland (see ‘Synod of Relief hymns’*). He was educated from the age of 14 at the University of Glasgow (1869-73) and then at the Theological Hall of the UPC at Edinburgh. He was licensed as a probationer, but was elected to no charge, and so was not ordained, remaining a ‘licensed preacher’ and taking appointments at any place and at short notice. He turned to the Church of England: he entered the Scholar Cancellarii (Chancellor’s School) at Lincoln, and was ordained (deacon 1884, priest 1885). He was...