John Ker

John Ker

4 Sermons
John Ker (1819–1886) was a Scottish preacher and minister whose thoughtful sermons and writings enriched the United Presbyterian Church during the 19th century. Born on April 7, 1819, in the farmhouse of Bield, Tweedsmuir, Peeblesshire, to parents who later moved to Fillyside and Abbeyhill near Edinburgh, he was deeply influenced as a child by the preaching of John Brown of Haddington. Educated at Edinburgh High School and the University of Edinburgh, where he excelled in philosophy classes under Sir William Hamilton, Ker entered the divinity hall of the United Secession Church in 1838. Ordained in 1851, he became pastor of East Campbell Street Church in Glasgow, serving there until 1876, when he was appointed professor of practical training at the United Presbyterian Theological Hall, a role he held until his death. He never married, focusing instead on his ministerial and scholarly pursuits. Ker’s preaching ministry was characterized by intellectual depth and pastoral sensitivity, earning him respect among peers and congregants despite chronic health issues that limited his physical stamina. His sermons, often reflective and steeped in Scripture, were complemented by his contributions to the United Presbyterian Magazine, including articles later published as The Psalms in History and Biography (1886). After his death on October 4, 1886, posthumous works like Lectures on the History of Preaching (1888) and a volume of his letters (1890) revealed his broad interests in theology, Scottish identity, and pastoral care. Ker died in Glasgow, leaving a legacy as a preacher and educator whose quiet dedication and erudition strengthened the United Presbyterian tradition, though his influence remained largely within ecclesiastical circles rather than achieving broader public renown.
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