Alexander Moody Stuart

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See also Alexander Moody-Stuart for the 20th century sugar estate owner in Antigua

Alexander Moody Stuart, born Alexander Moody, Free Church of Scotland minister, born at Paisley, 15 June 1809, died at Crieff, 31 July 1898.

Married Jessie Stuart, eldest daughter of Kenneth Bruce Stuart, Esq. of Annat, 9 September 1839 (she died 27 April 1891). Her grandfather had entailed his estate at Rait on the braes of the Carse of Gowrie which he had named Annat after an old family estate, on her father Kenneth, with the condition that if a female succeeded, as was the case, her husband should take the surname Stuart of Annat. Hence Alexander Moody took the name Alexander Moody Stuart.

He was missionary in Holy Island, Northumberland, 1831 - 1835; under the Kirk session of St George's, Edinburgh, began in 1835 the work of gathering a congregation in Young Street; ordained to his first ministry at St Luke's, Young Street, 27th July, 1837.

At the Disruption of 1843 he joined the Free Church of Scotland on his return from a trip to Madeira and Brazil, and became minister of St Luke's Free Church, Edinburgh in 1843; he was convener of Jewish Mission of the Free Church from 1847 to 1889 (with a brief interval); and Moderator of the General Assembly of the Free Church, 1875. He received the degree of DD from the University of Edinburgh in 1875.

He was a strong supporter of the Establishment Principle and opponent of disestablishment of the Church of Scotland; opposed Higher Criticism, and the proposed union with the United Presbyterian Church; and interested himself in promoting friendly relations between Scottish Presbyterians and the Reformed churches of Hungary and Bohemia.

His son Kenneth Moody Stuart wrote his biography and that of Brownlow North.