James Baine

Who was James Baine?

James Baine was one of the ministers of the secession from the church of Scotland which took the name of the Relief Church.

Baine was the son of the parish minister of Bonhill, Dumbartonshire, and born in the manse there in 1710. His elementary education was received at the parish school. He afterwards proceeded to the university of Glasgow. He had a brilliant career there and graduated M.A. Having been licensed as a preacher of the gospel, he was presented by the Duke of Montrose to the church of Killearn, the parish adjoining his father's. In 1756 he was translated to the high church of Paisley, and in 1757 had the celebrated Dr. John Witherspoon for a colleague. From the outset he was ardent in support of evangelical doctrine as opposed to the morality which came to be known as 'moderatism.' So early as 1745, he is found promoting a revival of religion in the west of Scotland. In the general assembly and presbytery, and from his pulpit, he stood forth as a zealous defender of the church's spiritual freedom and against all ecclesiastical tyranny. When the general assembly of the church of Scotland in 1752 deposed Thomas Gillespie of Carnock, Baine pleaded for him.