The collection contains:
James Russell Macphail, Church of Scotland missionary in Madras, India, was born in Glasgow on 18 July 1901. He was educated at Glasgow Academy then at Glasgow University (MA 1922) after which he studied theology at New College, Edinburgh. He went to Madras with the Church of Scotland in 1924 as a teacher at the Madras Christian College. In 1926 he returned to Edinburgh to be a student assistant and was ordained in 1928 returning to Madras in the same year.
Macphail was in India for a total of 43 years during which time he was professor of English Literature, Warden and Principal of the college. He was author of several books and was made DD of Glasgow University. During his retirement Macphail prepared a manuscript to be published as King and Teacher. When he died it was almost ready for the press and was published posthumously in three parts as The Parables of Jesus - King and Teacher (Madras: CLS, 1976), The Sermons of Jesus - King and Teacher (Madras: CLS, 1977), and The Kingdom and the King (Madras: CLS, 1977). Macphail had retired in March 1968 and he died soon after on 28 September 1968.
Open to researchers. It is essential to arrange an appointment in advance to view the archive in order that someone can be available to help. Please contact us by email at is-crc@ed.ac.uk . Telephone the Centre on: 0131 650 8900. Postal address: Centre for the Study of World Christianity, University of Edinburgh School of Divinity, New College, Mound Place, Edinburgh, EH1 2LX.
A paper catalogue to the collection is available at the Centre.
Description originally written and researched by Caroline Brown in August 2001. This was added to Archives Hub in August 2012 by Louise Williams.
Reproduction of materials (for example by digital camera) is free for private research and educational use, although we ask researchers to sign an agreement. Please contact us for enquiries on using the material in a commercial setting, for which there will be a fee. Contact us by email at is-crc@ed.ac.uk . Telephone the Centre on: 0131 650 8900. Postal address: Centre for the Study of World Christianity, University of Edinburgh School of Divinity, New College, Mound Place, Edinburgh, EH1 2LX.
No further additions to the collection are expected.
