Thomas M'Crie (sometimes known as Thomas McCree or Maccrae) (November 17725 August 1835) was a Scottish biographer and ecclesiastical historian, writer, and preacher born in the town of Duns, and educated at the University of Edinburgh. He became the leading minister of the Original Secession Church (Auld Licht Anti-Burgher). His work: "Life of Knox" (1813) was a means of vindicating the Scottish reformer John Knox who was a unpopular figure at the time. It was followed by a "Life of Andrew Melville" (1819). Melville was Knox's successor as the leader of the Reformers in Scotland. M'Crie also published histories of the Reformation in Italy and Spain. He received an honorary degree of D.D. in 1813, the first Secession minister to receive such an award.
Early life and education
Thomas M'Crie (called the Elder to avoid confusion with his son "the Younger") was a Scottish seceding divine and ecclesiastical historian. He, (the Elder) was himself the eldest son of Thomas McCrie, a substantial linen-weaver, by his first wife Mary (Hood), was born at Duns, Berwickshire, in November 1772. After passing through the parish school, he became an elementary teacher in neighbouring schools. In 1788 he entered at the Edinburgh University, but did not graduate. He became, in May 1791, teacher of an Anti-burgher school at Brechin, Forfarshire. To qualify himself for the ministry, he studied divinity under Archibald Bruce of Whitburn, Linlithgowshire, professor of theology to the General Associate Synod (anti-burgher). He was licensed in September 1795 by the Associate Presbytery of Kelso, and ordained on 26 May 1796 as minister of the second associate congregation in Potterrow, Edinburgh. He early showed both literary and controversial ability.
New testimony controversy
Since 1747, when the General Associate Synod seceded from the Associate Synod on the ground of the unlawfulness of the civic oath [see literature about Ebenezer Erskine and Adam Gib], changes had come over the minds of the Anti-burghers on the question of the mutual relations of civil and ecclesiastical authority. From the position that the civil power is to exercise itself in church matters under the guidance of ecclesiastical criticism, they had advanced to a view of the complete independence of church and state, and consequent denial of any place for civil authority in church affairs. This change of front was signalized by a 'new testimony,' adopted by the synod in May 1804. Bruce, McCrie, and two other ministers made repeated protests against this 'new testimony' as at variance with the older standards. At length, on 28 August 1806, they formed themselves into a "Constitutional Associate Presbytery". The synod deposed them (McCrie on 2 September) from the ministry. A lawsuit resulted (24 February 1809) in McCrie's ejection from the Potterrow meeting-house, when his congregation built a new one in Davie Street, out of West Richmond Street in Edinburgh. In 1827 the "Constitutional" body, joined by protesting members of the Burgher Synod, took the name of Original Seceders.