| Administrative History | The Rev. James S. Sinclair was born in Pulteneytown, Wick, Caithness, in the year 1868. His father, William Sinclair, was a merchant.
After James S. Sinclair left the Pulteneytown Academy he went to further his studies in George Watson's College and the Edinburgh University. As soon as he finished his course at the Edinburgh University, he entered the New College in that city to study divinity. This was a time of searchings of heart for the divisions of the Free Church of Scotland, and James S. Sinclair was destined to have his large share of the troubles that were brewing. He had only finished two years in divinity there, when the Free Church changed her relation to the Westminster Confession of Faith by the passing of the Declaratory Act. He, and several other students, refused to enter the New College in 1892. This caused him to go across to the Assembly's College, Belfast, where he finished his course in divinity. Shortly after he finished his theological studies, the separation took place in 1893, and the Free Presbyterian Church was formed. He was licensed to preach the Gospel that year, and became a probationer of the Free Presbyterian Church.
He married Miss Sutherland, a daughter of Mr. George Sutherland, clothier, Pulteneytown; they had a large family - three sons and six daughters.
As Editor of the Free Presbyterian Magazine he gained a reputation of literary ability, soundness of judgment, and sedateness in dealing with opponents. |