Charles Findlater facts for kids

Charles Findlater (born January 10, 1754 – died May 28, 1838) was a Scottish minister, a writer about farming, and an essayist. He was known for his helpful community work and his unique approach to his duties.

Early Life and Education

Charles Findlater was born on January 10, 1754, in West Linton, a town in Scotland. His father, Thomas Findlater, was also a minister in West Linton. When his father started his job there in 1729, some people in the community disagreed with his appointment. This led to a new church group forming.

Charles's mother was Jean Brown. Charles went to the University of Edinburgh and finished his studies on November 14, 1770.

A Life of Service

In 1777, Charles Findlater became an assistant to his father. Later, in 1790, he became the minister for the nearby Newlands parish. He lived and worked in Newlands until 1835. Just like his father, Charles also faced some opposition when he started his role in Newlands, which again led to a new church group being formed.

On July 26, 1791, Charles married Janet Hay Russell. Sadly, she died in an accident in 1828. Charles Findlater passed away in Glasgow on May 28, 1838, at the age of 84. He was buried in Newlands. An important church leader, he was known as the "father" of the local church group called the synod of Lothian and Tweeddale. A special marble statue of him was placed in the Peebles Art Gallery.

Helping His Community

Charles Findlater was known for being a very open-minded and caring minister. He believed in helping people in practical ways. He started one of the very first local savings banks, which helped people save their money safely. He even carried the bank's account book with him when he visited people in his parish!

He was also very friendly and approachable. He would sing songs at weddings and, on cold Sundays, he would invite his church members into his kitchen for dinner after the service. These actions showed how much he cared for his community.

His Writings and Ideas

Charles Findlater wrote several important books and essays.

• "Liberty and Equality" (1800): This was a sermon he gave in Newlands. It talked about his views on society and people's rights. When it was printed, it caused some debate, but he was supported by important figures like Sir James Montgomery.
• "General View of the Agriculture of the County of Peebles" (1802): In this book, he shared his knowledge about farming practices in the Peebles area. This showed his interest in improving agriculture.
• "Sermons or Essays upon Christian Duties" (1830): This collection included his thoughts on Christian responsibilities and also discussed basic ideas about how economies work.
• Contributions to "Statistical Accounts": He also wrote detailed descriptions of West Linton and Newlands for important books called the Statistical Account, which collected information about different parts of Scotland.