James Elder Cumming, D.D.

Dr. James Elder Cumming was born at Greenock, Scotland November 29, 1830, He was at first destined by his father for the profession of law, but his own desires turned towards the church, and after studying at Glasgow University he was, at the age of 23, ordained minister of the eastmost of the three congregations worshipping in the historic Parish Church of St. John at Perth – the church in which Knox preached the sermon that finally lighted the conflagration of the Reformation in Scotland. Six years later he removed to Newington, Edinburgh, and during his eleven years there the membership of the congregation increased to 1,300. In 1871 he succeeded Dr. Macduff in Sandyford Parish, Glasgow, a charge which he continued to hold for thirty-two years. A year later, while still only forty-two, he received from his alma mater the degree of D.D.
Dr. Elder Cumming was the first to propose the abolition of patronage in the Church of Scotland. After an eight years' struggle the Act was carried in 1874. On May 12, 1903, the occasion of his jubilee, Dr. Elder Cumming retired from the active charge of Sandyford Parish. He became a prominent speaker at the annual Keswick Convention. He declared that when he first attended Keswick, the Lord had met with and effected a great change in his life and service. He had already been in the ministry for many years, and held firmly to the truths of the Gospel, but these came into his heart with an entirely new power. He took a leading part in the ministry at Keswick until 1908, but after that, failing health prevented his return, and he passed away in 1917.