He moved from Montrose Chapel of Ease to Lady Glenorchy's Church in Edinburgh in December 1831. He worked alongside the elderly Rev Thomas Snell Jones.Fasti Fcclesiastae Scoticana by Hew Scott His senior, James Bonar WS, was at this time organising the physical relocation of the church due to the known coming of Waverley Railway Station. Edinburgh University awarded him an honorary Doctorate of Divinty in 1841.
