James Julius Wood

Life

He was born in Jedburgh on 4 September 1800 the son of a doctor, William Wood, and his wife Isabella Hedley. He was grandson of James Wood, a minister from Calton in Edinburgh. He studied Divinity at Glasgow University graduating MA. He was licensed to preach by the Presbytery of Jedburgh in October 1825. He was ordained as a minister of the Church of Scotland at Newton-on-Ayr in 1827.

In 1836, he was translated to Stirling and in 1839 to New Greyfriars in central Edinburgh. He left the church in the Disruption of 1843 but his congregation did not follow him. He fell into ill-health and spent some years in the Mediterranean trying to improve his health with church duties in Malta and Madeira. When on leave of absence for ill-health acted as chaplain to 42nd Royal Highlanders at Malta 1842. He resided two years in Madeira, and subsequently assisted Thomas Guthrie, Patrick Clason, and others.

He returned to Scotland in 1848 to take on St George's Free Church in Dumfries, replacing Rev Mackenzie who moved to Birmingham. Dumfries was in the midst of a cholera epidemic when he arrived being inducted on 8 June 1848. The church grew until it had more than 600 communicant members. Glasgow University awarded him an honorary doctorate (Doctor of Divinity) in 1856. In 1857, he was elected Moderator of the General Assembly of the Free Church. In 1858, he was succeeded by Alexander Beith. In 1861, he was highly involved in the Revival Movement.

He died in Dumfries on 27 March 1877. Wood has a memorial stone in St. Mary’s churchyard, Dumfries.

Family

He married 21 October 1833, Christian Inglis (died 14 February 1886), daughter of James Henderson, (Inland Revenue), and Sophia Young, and had at least six children.

Publications

"On the Sacrifice of Fools," in The Scottish Christian Herald: Conducted under the Superintendence of Ministers and Members of the Established Church. January 6, to December 29, 1838. Vol. 3. Edinburgh: John Johnstone, 1838. pp. 772–73.

"The Danger of Associating with the Ungodly," in The Scottish Christian Herald: Conducted under the Superintendence of Ministers and Members of the Established Church. January 5, to December 28, 1839. Vol. 1. Edinburgh: John Johnstone, 1839. pp. 456–60.

"The First Commandment of All," in The Scottish Christian Herald: Conducted under the Superintendence of Ministers and Members of the Established Church. January 5, to December 28, 1839. Vol. 1. Edinburgh: John Johnstone, 1839. pp. 697–701.

The beginnings of wisdom, a sermon, preached on George Heriot’s day, June 7, 1841. Edinburgh: Bell & Bradfute, 1841.

Lecture to Young Men. Glasgow, 1842.

Address to the Congregation of New Greyfriars, on occasion of quitting the Establishment. Edinburgh: John Johnstone, 1843.

"The Christian Warfare," in The Scottish pulpit: a series of sermons by the most eminent divines of the Scottish church, forming a complete body of practical divinity. Vol. 3 Aberdeen: G. & H. King, 1845. pp. 392–96.

"The Name of God Revealed by Himself," in The Scottish pulpit: a series of sermons by the most eminent divines of the Scottish church, forming a complete body of practical divinity. Vol. 5. Aberdeen: G. & H. King, 1845. pp. 265–73.

"Notes on Madeira". A series of 7 articles from 1846: 1st, 2nd, 3rd, 4th, 5th, 6th, 7th

"Dr Kalley's Imprisonment and Labours," in The Christian treasury : containing contributions from ministers and members of various evangelical denominations. Edinburgh: John Johnstone, 1846. pp. 505–07.

Artistic recognition

He was photographed by Hill & Adamson in 1857. St George's church website reports "In April 1870, a photograph was taken of Dr. Wood, aged 70 years, surrounded by his elders and deacons. Each person can be identified by name and in most cases, his occupation. This remarkable photograph hangs in St. George’s today"

In 1860, he was photographed with other ex-moderators at the steps of New College, Edinburgh.