| Administrative History | Rev. John Skinner of Linshart (1721 - 1807) graduated from Marischal College, Aberdeen in 1838. Brought up as a Presbyterian, he joined the Episcopalian Church at aged 19, and was ordained and appointed to the Episcopalian congregation of Longside, Aberdeenshire, in 1742, where he remained until his death in 1807. A committed and outspoken member of the Church, he was imprisoned for 6 months in 1753, for defying the 1748 Penal Act against the Episcopalian Church of Scotland, and in the latter part of the eighteenth century became involved in training many Aberdeenshire and Brechin clergy for the ministry. His writing, in Latin, English and Scots, earned him widespread popular and critical acclaim. His best known works are 'An Ecclesiastical History of Scotland' (London, 1788) and 'Tullochgorum'. His second son, John Skinner (1744 - 1816), Bishop of Aberdeen, 1782 - 1816, and Primus of the Episcopalian Church in Scotland, 1788 - 1816, was a leading figure in the recovery of the Church after the troubles of the eighteenth century.
For further details see the entry for Skinner by G.N. Pennie in 'Dictionary of Scottish Church History and Theology', ed. by Nigel M. de S. Cameron (Edinburgh: T. and T. Clark, 1993), pp 777 - 778 (from which this administrative history was compiled); John Skinner, 'Theological Works of the late John Skinner, Episcopal Clergyman in Longside, Aberdeenshire: to which is prefixed, a biographical memoir of the author' (Aberdeen: Chalmers, 1809); William Walker, 'The Life and Times of the Rev. John Skinner' (London, 1883); and 'Tullochgorum's Memory: Tributes in Longside and London Worthy of his Work and Character' (n.p.: n.pub., 1921). |
| Description | Manuscripts by, or relating to, Rev. John Skinner of Linshart (1721 - 1807), Episcopal minister at Longside, Aberdeenshire, with printed copies of his songs and related biographical material. The collection comprises letter from Rev. W. Jones, Fenedon, to Rev. J. Skinner describing and commenting upon the ideas of Christopher Simpson (d 1669), concerning the Theory of Music and the Doctrine of the Trinity in Unity, as published in 'The Divine Violin' (sic. 'Recte Violist', 1659), 20 Jan 1751; texts of 5 sermons in unknown hands, originally delivered [?by Skinner] before 1800, with annotations showing dates of subsequent deliveries, 1793 - 1845; 'Copies of poems by the author of Tullochgorum' (i.e. Rev. John Skinner (1721 - 1807)), n.d.; 2 copies of 'Amusements of Leisure Hours; or, Poetical Pieces Chiefly in the Scottish Dialect by the late Reverend John Skinner' (Edinburgh, 1809); Rev. William Walker, 'The Life and Times of the Rev. John Skinner' (London, 1883); and photostat copies of newspaper articles about John Skinner, Bishop Skinner and related topics, 1940s and n.d. |