Dictionary of National Biography, 1885-1900/Crawford, Thomas Jackson
CRAWFORD, THOMAS JACKSON, D.D. (1812–1875), Scottish divine, was a native of St. Andrews. His father, William Crawford, was professor of moral philosophy in the United College in that city. He received his education in the university of St. Andrews, took his degree in 1831, and, being licensed as a preacher by the presbytery of St. Andrews in April 1834, was presented by the principal and masters of the United College to the parish of Cults. In 1838 he was translated to Glamis, to which parish he had been presented by the trustees of Lord Strathmore; and six years later, having received from the university of St. Andrews the degree of D.D., he was transferred to the charge of St. Andrew's parish in Edinburgh. In 1859 he was appointed professor of divinity; in 1861 he was made a chaplain-in-ordinary to the queen; subsequently he became a dean of the chapel royal; and in 1867 his eminence as a theologian was recognised by his election to the office of moderator of the general assembly. He died at Genoa on 11 Oct. 1875.
His works are:
- ‘Reasons of Adherence to the Church of Scotland,’ Cupar, 1843.
- ‘An Argument for Jewish Missionaries,’ Edinburgh, 1847.
- ‘Presbyterianism defended against the exclusive claims of Prelacy, as urged by Romanists and Tractarians,’ Edinburgh, 1853, 8vo.
- ‘Presbytery or Prelacy; which is the more conformable to the pattern of the Apostolic Churches?’ 2nd edit. Lond. [1867], 16mo. The subject dealt with in this and the preceding work led to a protracted controversy with Bishop Wordsworth, which was carried on in the columns of the ‘Scotsman.’
- ‘The Fatherhood of God, considered in its general and special aspects, and particularly in relation to the Atonement. With a review of recent speculations on the subject’ [by Professor R. S. Candlish and others], Edinburgh, 1866, 1867, 1870, 8vo.
- ‘The Doctrine of Holy Scripture respecting the Atonement,’ Lond. 1871, 1874, 8vo. 7. ‘The Mysteries of Christianity; being the Baird lecture for 1874,’ London, 1874, 8vo.