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Gibb, James
Full NameGIBB, Very Rev Dr James, D.D. (Aberdeen 1903)Date of Birth15 June 1857Date of Death24 October 1935Biography
He was educated at Aberdeen Grammar
School 1863 to 1872. Spent two years in the Union Bank of Scotland 1872 to 1874.
Studied at the University of Aberdeen from 1876 then at the United Presb. Church Theological Hall in Edinburgh. After two years of indifferent health, he migrated to Australia and completed his final (third) year of Theological studies at Ormond College in Melbourne 1882.
Licensed by the Presbytery of Melbourne 19 Dec 1882
Ordained and inducted to Footscray 5 Mar 1883 – resigned 1 Dec 1885
Opposed to the unitarian Australian Minister, the Rev Charles Strong, 1883.
Visited Dunedin, New Zealand May 1884.
To New Zealand
After his health broke down 1933-1934 he was advised to take a trip to Australia, returned home November 1934. He had marked zeal for Church Union throughout his life; Chairman of the Union Committee 1895-1901.
Moderator of the first combined Assembly of the Presbyterian Church of New Zealand after Church Union 1901.
Moderator of the Presbyterian Synod of Otago and Southland 1901-1902; Convener of the Home Mission Committee 1908-20; prominent in Public Questions Committee; took leading part in establishment of Scots College 1916, and of Queen Margaret College 1920, and was Chairman of both Boards until 1933. President of Dunedin Social Reform Association 1893-94; President of the St John Ambulance Association 1898; initiated The Council of Churches in Dunedin 1888-1903, being their President 1899-1900; presided over Church Union negotiations of Presbyterian, Methodist and Congregational Churches 1902-07; visited Great Britain in 1920 to recruit Home Missionaries and Ministers; on visit was impressed with need for peace movement and on his return brought into existence the New Zealand League of Nations Union 1921-34; Chairman of the Wellington Presbyterian Support Services Association (PSSA) 1910-35; had strong ministry to youth and in his congregation the Bible Class Movement was born (by George Troup, elder, along with W.H. Rose, elder, St Paul’s Christchurch); after retirement he raised funds for theological scholarships and for the Turakina Maori Girls College.
Campaigner against gambling, Sabbath-breaking, illicit sex, opium trade, strong supporter for Bible in Schools and the Peace Movement.
‘From the first he exercised a powerful ministry and was prominent in the Courts of the Church.’
‘In Dunedin he began a ministry of great force, fearless courage, and evangelical passion.’
‘For nearly 50 years he was a leader of outstanding ability, tireless energy and passionate devotion to Christ and his Church; a man of action, a scholar, an administrator with vision, an enthusiast for all that made for righteousness and truth, a prophet to his generation, fearlessly applying the Word of God to the social, national and international questions of his time. With incisive clarity and burning eloquence, in the pulpit and on the platform, in the Courts of the Church and by the use of his pen, he advocated every cause that made for the Kingdom of God and his righteousness. .... a prince and a ruler in Israel.’
- born 15 June 1857 Aberdeen
- son of James Gibb, a shoemaker, and Jane GREIG
- married 28 December 1881 (Aberdeen) Jane (Jean) Paterson SMITH, born 9 April 1857, died 31 October 1932
- children Rev G.H. GIBB, Rev M.C. GIBB.
- died 24 October 1935
He was educated at Aberdeen Grammar
School 1863 to 1872. Spent two years in the Union Bank of Scotland 1872 to 1874.
Studied at the University of Aberdeen from 1876 then at the United Presb. Church Theological Hall in Edinburgh. After two years of indifferent health, he migrated to Australia and completed his final (third) year of Theological studies at Ormond College in Melbourne 1882.
Licensed by the Presbytery of Melbourne 19 Dec 1882
Ordained and inducted to Footscray 5 Mar 1883 – resigned 1 Dec 1885
Opposed to the unitarian Australian Minister, the Rev Charles Strong, 1883.
Visited Dunedin, New Zealand May 1884.
To New Zealand
- First Church Dunedin, Inducted 27 January 1886 (aged 29) to 1903
- St Johns Wellington 12 August 1903 — retired 18 April 1926
After his health broke down 1933-1934 he was advised to take a trip to Australia, returned home November 1934. He had marked zeal for Church Union throughout his life; Chairman of the Union Committee 1895-1901.
Moderator of the first combined Assembly of the Presbyterian Church of New Zealand after Church Union 1901.
Moderator of the Presbyterian Synod of Otago and Southland 1901-1902; Convener of the Home Mission Committee 1908-20; prominent in Public Questions Committee; took leading part in establishment of Scots College 1916, and of Queen Margaret College 1920, and was Chairman of both Boards until 1933. President of Dunedin Social Reform Association 1893-94; President of the St John Ambulance Association 1898; initiated The Council of Churches in Dunedin 1888-1903, being their President 1899-1900; presided over Church Union negotiations of Presbyterian, Methodist and Congregational Churches 1902-07; visited Great Britain in 1920 to recruit Home Missionaries and Ministers; on visit was impressed with need for peace movement and on his return brought into existence the New Zealand League of Nations Union 1921-34; Chairman of the Wellington Presbyterian Support Services Association (PSSA) 1910-35; had strong ministry to youth and in his congregation the Bible Class Movement was born (by George Troup, elder, along with W.H. Rose, elder, St Paul’s Christchurch); after retirement he raised funds for theological scholarships and for the Turakina Maori Girls College.
Campaigner against gambling, Sabbath-breaking, illicit sex, opium trade, strong supporter for Bible in Schools and the Peace Movement.
‘From the first he exercised a powerful ministry and was prominent in the Courts of the Church.’
‘In Dunedin he began a ministry of great force, fearless courage, and evangelical passion.’
‘For nearly 50 years he was a leader of outstanding ability, tireless energy and passionate devotion to Christ and his Church; a man of action, a scholar, an administrator with vision, an enthusiast for all that made for righteousness and truth, a prophet to his generation, fearlessly applying the Word of God to the social, national and international questions of his time. With incisive clarity and burning eloquence, in the pulpit and on the platform, in the Courts of the Church and by the use of his pen, he advocated every cause that made for the Kingdom of God and his righteousness. .... a prince and a ruler in Israel.’
Dr James Gibb (left) outside First Church of Otago, Dunedin, circa 1920, from The People's Church 1848-1998, page 16.
P-A132.7-11
P-A132.7-11
Relates to
Recollect CollectionPeople
Gibb, James. Presbyterian Research Centre, accessed 02/11/2024, https://prc.recollect.co.nz/nodes/view/112688