{{Short description|Scottish minister and academic}} {{Use dmy dates|date=April 2022}} {{Infobox Christian leader | type = | honorific-prefix = The Very Reverend Professor | name = James Pitt-Watson | honorific-suffix = | title = Moderator of the General Assembly | image = | image_size = | alt = | caption = | church = Church of Scotland | elected = | term = 1953 to 1954 | predecessor = George Johnstone Jeffrey | successor = Ernest David Jarvis | other_post = <!---------- Orders ----------> | ordination = | ordained_by = <!---------- Personal details ----------> | birth_name = | birth_date = 9 November 1893 | birth_place = | death_date = {{death date and age|df=y|25 December 1962|9 November 1893}} <!-- {{Death date and age|YYYY|MM|DD|YYYY|MM|DD}} (death date then birth date) --> | death_place = <!-- as birth_place --> | buried = <!-- or | tomb = --> | resting_place_coordinates = | nationality = Scottish | religion = Presbyterianism | residence = | parents = | spouse = <!-- or | partner = --> | children = | occupation = Church minister and academic | profession = <!-- or | previous_post = --> | education = | alma_mater = }} '''James Pitt-Watson''' (9 November 1893 – 25 December 1962) was a Scottish minister and academic. He was Professor of Practical Theology at Glasgow University and served as Moderator of the General Assembly of the Church of Scotland in 1953.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.heraldscotland.com/news/12668306.the-rev-professor-ian-pitt-watson/|title=The Rev Professor Ian Pitt-Watson|website=HeraldScotland}}</ref> He has been described as an "ecclesiastical politician".<ref>Power without Glory: Ian Henderson 1967</ref>
==Life== thumb|St Mungo's in Alloa James Pitt-Watson was born on 9 November 1893. He was educated at George Heriot's School, a private school in Edinburgh, Scotland. He studied and trained for ministry at the University of Edinburgh.<ref name="WWW">{{cite web |title=Pitt-Watson, Very Rev. Prof. James |url=https://www.ukwhoswho.com/view/10.1093/ww/9780199540891.001.0001/ww-9780199540884-e-55678 |website=Who Was Who |publisher=Oxford University Press |access-date=2 June 2019 |language=en |doi=10.1093/ww/9780199540884.013.U55678 |date=1 December 2007|isbn=978-0-19-954089-1 }}</ref>
Pitt-Watson was ordained for the Church of Scotland in 1920.<ref name="WWW" /> He was minister of St. Mungo's Parish Church in Alloa church in central Scotland from 1929 to 1946.<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.hymntime.com/tch/bio/p/i/t/pitt-watson_i.htm |title=Ian Pitt-Watson |website=www.hymntime.com |access-date=17 January 2022 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140715045614/http://www.hymntime.com/tch/bio/p/i/t/pitt-watson_i.htm |archive-date=15 July 2014 |url-status=dead}}</ref> During his time as Moderator he presented a Bible to Queen Elizabeth II at her coronation, saying, "Here is wisdom, this is the royal law, these are the lively Oracles of God."<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.churchofscotland.org.uk/news_and_events/news/archive/articles/2012/moderator_joins_the_queen_at_official_diamond_jubilee_celebration |title=Moderator joins the Queen at official Diamond Jubilee celebration - Church of Scotland |website=www.churchofscotland.org.uk |access-date=17 January 2022 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20141024231241/http://www.churchofscotland.org.uk/news_and_events/news/archive/articles/2012/moderator_joins_the_queen_at_official_diamond_jubilee_celebration |archive-date=24 October 2014 |url-status=dead}}</ref> Other duties as Moderator included opening the new church at Colinton Mains in south-west Edinburgh<ref>{{cite web|url=https://fhpc.org.uk/about-us/history/|title=Fairmilehead Parish Church | History|website=fhpc.org.uk}}</ref>
He died on Christmas Day, 25 December 1962. His obituary was written by the Very Rev A C Craig.<ref>Glasgow Herald (newspaper) 27 December 1962</ref>
==Family==
He was father to Rev Prof Ian Pitt-Watson (1923-1995).<ref>{{cite web |title=Ian Pitt-Watson |url=https://hymnology.hymnsam.co.uk/i/ian-pitt-watson |website=The Canterbury Dictionary of Hymnology |publisher=Canterbury Press |access-date=2 June 2019}}</ref> Through his son Ian, he is grandfather to the Scottish businessman, David Pitt-Watson.
==References== {{reflist}}
==External links== * [http://www.gettyimages.co.uk/detail/video/peers-james-pitt-watson-moderator-of-the-church-of-news-footage/509964646 Video of Pitt-Watson presenting a Bible to Elizabeth II during her coronation.]
{{Moderators of the General Assembly of the Church of Scotland}}
{{Authority control}}
{{DEFAULTSORT:Pitt-Watson, James}} Category:1893 births Category:1962 deaths Category:Moderators of the General Assembly of the Church of Scotland Category:People educated at George Heriot's School Category:Alumni of the University of Edinburgh Category:20th-century ministers of the Church of Scotland Category:20th-century Scottish Presbyterian ministers