John Spottiswoode, archbishop and chancellor: as churchman, historian and theologian

Abstract

The scope of this thesis as stated in its title is perhaps best defined by the subject of the study himself. John Spottiswoode, Archbishop of Glasgow and later of St. Andrews, Chancellor of Scotland, Churchman, Historian, Theologian, gives us our starting point and also prescribes the limits of our survey in three recorded sayings: "Now all that we have been doing these thirty years past is thrown down at once"; "God knoweth I have followed the truth, and studied to observe the laws of History;" "I profess to believe all the Articles of the Creed commonly called the Apostles' Creed..... This is the sum of my faith; other additaments.... I simply refuse."

Our study then will follow the course laid down by these declarations: an investigation of the events of "thirty years past" as they affect or are affected by the ecclesiastical administration of Spottiswoode; an examination of his claim. to be a faithful historian; an enquiry into his theological standpoint with note of deviations, from the accepted tenets of his time.

This is not a biography although biographical details must be included, nor is it a history of the period although that history must be considered. It is an attempt along the lines indicated.to gather up the various strands of evidence and to deduce thereform the principles and policy of one distinguished alike by the high public office he held at a momentous period in the history of Scotland and also by the role ne was called to play both as public figure and ecclesiastic.