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Fife’s Grand Old Cleric – The Story of a varied career
(adapted from an article in the People’s Journal on March 28 th 1914)
Beloved as the faithful pastor of a rural parish for over forty years, famed as an army chaplain who underwent dire privations in the dark days of the Crimean War, respected as an author of no means standard, and noted as an authority on Church history, there were few more interesting men in Fife in 1914 than the Rev. James Campbell, D.D., Seacraig, Newport, who was waited upon by a deputation from the Cupar presbytery and presented with a congratulatory address on the occasion of his attaining the sixtieth year of his ministry in the Church of Scotland.
The life of this veteran cleric was indeed an interesting and varied one. A native of Perthshire, Mr Campbell was a student at St. Andrews University, where he graduated M.A. in 1847. After being licensed as a probationer he took up duty as assistant to Dr. Adie in Dundee Parish Church. After two years of untiring labour in Dundee he was in March 1854 ordained chaplain to the Highland Brigade. The Brigade was then under orders to proceed to the Crimea, and only a few weeks after his appointment, the young chaplain sailed from Southampton to take up his trying post in the gloomy Crimea.
Through the Crimea
Dr. Campbell with the modesty of all really great spirits, was always reluctant to say much of the many exciting experiences which were his during the progress of the Crimean campaign. In 1880, however he was persuaded by the Editor of “Life and Work” to contribute to the sailors and soldiers supplement of that magazine a series of articles descriptive of the fortunes of the Highland Brigade from the time when, under the command of Sir Colin Campbell, they sailed up the Mediterranean and landed at Scutari. There are those who extol short religious services at all times, but in his early days in the Crimea, Dr Campbell had no choice in the matter. Brevity was the necessity, for the heat was so great that it caused much sickness amongst the soldiers, and the services, which were conducted in the open air, were consequently often very short indeed.
Describing the inspiring and impressive services which it was his lot to conduct, Dr Campbell says :- “When the weather was fine those assemblages presented a picturesque and interesting sight. The troops as they arrive at the place appointed are formed in a hollow square. The officiating chaplain takes up a position within, and close to one of the sides of the square, where he can best be heard according to the direction of the wind. Before him a regimental drum stands on its end, covered by a military flag. This serves as his pulpit or bookstand. Sir Colin Campbell and his staff stand nearby. To the centre of the square is a choir of singers, along with several members of the regimental band, having their musical instruments – at that time an innovation in Presbyterian worship.
Writing to the Soldier’s Relatives
Naturally, however, conducting services was but a small part of the duties which devolved upon the young chaplain. “No small part of our work” he said, “consisted of correspondence with soldier’s friends at home. Sick and dying men frequently asked me to write to their relatives; and I had the melancholy duty of conveying to them to last wishes of a husband, brother or son, whom they were never to see in the old home. Many and touching were the letters I received in reply”
On his return to Scotland at the end of the campaign, Mr Campbell became assistant in St Georges, Edinburgh. His stay here, however was short, for in 1857 the lovely rural parish of Balmerino, situated on the southern estuary of the Tay, became vacant and to this charge he was presented by the Crown. Mr Campbell found outlet for his untiring energy by devoting himself to antiquarian research, the ruins of Balmerino Abbey furnishing him with ample opportunities for such work, Nor were the results of his research long kept from the world at large, for in 1867 “Balmerino and its Abbey” was published, and in this work Mr Campbell graphically described the history fo the Abbey from its foundation in 1229. On Church history too, he came to be a recognised authority, and contributed a valuable volume of the “History of the Celtic Church” to, “The Church of Scotland, Past and Present” published in the early 1990’s under the editorship of Principal Storey
A Faithful Pastor
Perhaps it is as a faithful and devoted minister to the Balmerino flock that Dr. Campbell – the degree of D.D. was conferred upon him by St. Andrews University in 1876, is best remembered and loved in Fife. He was a kindly pastor, and under his ministry the church and parish made marked progress. The beauty and comfort of the church, and the existence of the church hall, were due to his energy, and in all the varied work of the rural parish minister he did good service during his long ministry.
In 1904 he retired from active work, having completed fifty years as a minister of the Church of Scotland and forty-seven years as minister of Balmerino.
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