St Cuthberts Church, Edinburgh as seen from Moncrieff-Wellwood's graveThe Grave of Sir Henry Moncrieff-Wellwood, St Cuthbert's Churchyard
He was born Henry Wellwood Moncreiff at Blackford manse near Stirling on 6 February 1750, the eldest son of Catherine Wellwood and Sir William Moncreiff, Baronet, who was minister of the parish.
After a local education he studied at the University of Glasgow from 1763. He then studied divinity at the University of Edinburgh. On the death of his father it was established that he should fill the role of minister in his stead but he was not yet old enough. In 1768 he removed to the University of Edinburgh to complete his studies.[1]
He was ordained by the Presbytery of Auchterarder on 15 August 1771 aged 21 and began preaching in Blackford. His talent outstripped this tiny parish and in 1775 he successfully obtained the patronage of his uncle to take over as minister of St Cuthbert's Church, Edinburgh (then generally called the West Kirk). He was first suggested as Moderator of the General Assembly in 1780, but lost to the much older Rev Harry Spens. He was, however, elected moderator in 1785 still aged only 35.[1]
He was a member of the Sons of the Clergy. He lived his later life at 13 Queen Street.[3]
He died at Bruntsfield Links on 9 August 1827 following a long illness (compounded by the death of his wife).[4] He is buried in the north-west corner of the northern section of St Cuthbert's Churchyard.
Family
In November 1772, Sir Henry was married to Susan Robertson Barclay (d.1826), his cousin and the daughter of James Robertson Barclay WS of Cavell. Their eldest son, William Moncrieff-Wellwood LLD, was Advocate for the Admiralty and died in Malta in 1813. Their daughter Isabella Moncrieff was a writer of children books who married John Stoddart (later Sir John Stoddart of the Admiralty).
