THOUGH born on the Isle of Cumbrae, Dr. Hutchison, Dean of Glasgow and
Galloway, is the son of a Glasgow merchant, and received his early education at
Glasgow in the High School and Glasgow University. At school he formed an early
taste for Classic literature, and at the old college in High Street he gained
prizes both for Latin prose and Latin and English verse. He continued his
studies at Oxford, first at Worcester College and afterwards at Lincoln, where
he gained an open exhibition and was proxime for the Lincoln scholarship,
graduating from Lincoln College in 1847. While chief classical master of
Dreghorn College, in 1867, he was ordained deacon at Edinburgh, and afterwards
became curate of St. Stephen's, Norwich. Thence he was called to Trinity Church,
Paisley, to assist the Rev. James Stewart, then in failing health. Here, in the
person of the incumbent's daughter, he found the lady who became his wife and
able helpmeet. He was ordained priest at Glasgow in 1869, and after assisting
the Rev. T. B. Walpole at Port-Glasgow for a few summer months, he became
curate-in-charge of the South-side Mission at Glasgow.
At that time the mission was the only Episcopal meeting-place on the south side
of the city, and it was situated in the dingy Buchanan Court, off Eglinton
Street. From that unpromising start, Dean Hutchison has built up, by his
courage, energy, and kindly zeal, the beautiful church and crowded congregation
of St. Ninian's, of which he is the first rector. The new church was built in
1873. At first there was little more than the bare walls for the scanty flock to
worship in, but rapidly the reverent services and bright practical preaching of
the incumbent took effect; the pews filled, pulpit, organ, choir stalls, and
lectern were added, carved capitals and stained glass appeared, and St. Ninian's
became one of the most beautiful and successful Episcopal churches in Scotland.
Among its finest decorations is a series of notable frescoes on the apse walls
on each side of the altar. They are the work of W. Hole, R.S.A., of Edinburgh,
and are illustrative of the "Benedicite." The fane was consecrated in 1877. Ten
years later two hundred sittings were added, with a church hall and a verger's
house, and to-day the whole cost, nearly £10,000 has been paid, and the church
is full.
While struggling to set his own church on a prosperous footing, the rector of
St. Ninian's found time to plant at Govan a mission which has developed into the
congregation of St. Michael's, and at Polmadie he erected the mission church of
St. Martin's. For several years also he acted as secretary to the Glasgow and
Galloway Diocesan Home Mission Society, till its work was merged in that of the
Representative Church Council. For twelve years he was Diocesan Inspector of
Schools, and from 1881 has been Examining Chaplain to the Bishops of Glasgow.
Among other interests he has for many years been a Director of the Glasgow
Institution for the Deaf and Dumb, a Patron of Hutchesons' Hospital, elected by
the Hospital, and one of the Governors of the Glasgow City Educational
Endowments Board, elected by the Magistrates and Town Council.
In 1895 St. Ninian's celebrated with much heartiness the semi-jubilee of its
rector; and on the death of Mrs. Hutchison, three years later the women of the
congregation, of all classes erected as a token of their love and esteem the
marble altar steps and beautiful reredos of the church.
On St. Matthew's Day, 21st September, 1903, the 34th anniversary of his
ordination as Presbyter, and the 33rd of his taking up work in Glasgow, Mr.
Hutchison was made Dean of Glasgow and Galloway, and in virtue of his office it
fell to him in the following February to arrange for and preside over the
election of the new Bishop of the diocese, Bishop Campbell.
On the invitation of the Vice-Chancellor of Oxford, given shortly after his
appointment as Dean, Mr. Hutchison proceeded to the degree of D.D., which was
conferred on him in the Sheldonian Theatre on the day following the "Encaenia"
or "Commemoration" of 1905.
Throughout these busy and anxious years Dean Hutchison has not forgotten the
solace of his classical studies. Few probably have a better acquaintance with
the poetry of the Mediaeval Church, and some fifteen years ago he issued through
Messrs. David Bryce & Son a dainty volume, Hymnos Quosdam Hodiernos, in which he
has presented some of our best modem hymns in the rhymed Latin verse of the
church of the feudal centuries.
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Index of Glasgow Men (1909)