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The Australian Town and Country Journal, April 28th 1894 :
“The Rev. Dr. Grant, M.A.,
OF SHOALHAVEN.
“many readers in the south and in the northern rivers districts will remember Dr. Grant ..... and who is probably the oldest Presbyterian minister in Australia. he was born in the town of Nairn, Scotland, in the year 1806. His early education he received in this town, and early showed marked ability. After leaving school he visited London; but he soon returned to his native land, and entered the office of a relative as writer to the SIGNET, with the view of adopting the legal profession. This, however, he soon abandoned, finding the occupation uncongenial, and he resolved to devote himself to the ministry of the Church of Scotland. He competed for and obtained a bursary in the University of Aberdeen. Entering this institution he passed through his arts course with distinction. Having taken his M.A. degree, he resolved to take his divinity course in Edinburgh. There Dr. Thomas Chambers [Chalmers], as Professor of Divinity, had already begun to exercise a powerful influence over the students, and in his classes young Grant had for his contemporaries and fellow-students many of those who afterwards formed that brilliant galaxy of preachers which made the Disruption time so famous, not a few of whom where the personal friends of the young student. During his divinity course he devoted part of his time to tutorial work - we believe in the family of the late Lord Cockburn. Mr. Grant studied Gaelic under Dr. Kennedy. In November, 1833, Mr. Grant was licensed by the Presbytery of Dornoch, and soon after became assistant to the Rev. Pryce Cambell, of Ardersier. In 1836 Mr. Grant received a presentation to the Quoad Sacra parish of Tendry, and on September 15, 1836, was ordained and inducted into his first charge. Here the young minister soon made his mark as a preacher. The times were eventful. The ‘Ten Years’ Conflict’ had begun, and men were called upon to choose sides. Mr. Grant’s choice was soon made; ranging himself under the leadership of Dr. Chalmers, he threw himself into the evangelical movement with all his heart, and not long after he and his co-presbyters had to appear at the bar of the Court of Session, for disregarding the legal mandate. In the eventful year 1843 Mr. Grant was a member of the General Assembly, and was one of the famous 470 ministers who marched out in procession, giving up their all for conscience sake. Minister and congregation had to leave their church; and there being no building convenient, Mr. Grant applied for and obtained permission from the late Mrs. Saudeman, of Banskied, to preach under shelter of a wood.
“Mr. Grant’s labours after the Disruption were arduous and incessant. In 1845 he accepted a call from the Free Church congregation in Moulin. There he laboured with success until 1847, when he was translated to the more important charge of Free St. Stephen’s, Perth. Here he wrought with much acceptance until 1853, when at the request of the Colonial Committee, he offered himself for foreign service, and came to New South Wales. After itinerating for a while, he settled in Shoalhaven, where he soon gathered an attached congregation of thorough Presbyterians, and though several times called elsewhere, he chose to remain among ‘his own people.’ His district in the early days was large, and his life laborious, but his methodical habits, native vigor, and above all, zeal for his divine Master, carried him over all difficulties. In the early years of his ministry at Shoalhaven, he preached three times each Sabbath, holding two services in English and one in Gaelic. In more recent days the latter was discontinued, but three services in English, with long rides between, were maintained up nearly to the period of his jubilee. He also conducted many week day services. He was also most regular in his attendance upon courts of the church, and was seldom absent from the meetings of the presbytery, which were generally held at Kiama, distant more than 20 miles from his residence. It was always a delight to his ministerial brethren to see him in their midst, as they felt that he took an unbiased view of the matters under discussion, expressed himself in the most courteous manner, and he directed his efforts to the promotion of peace and righteousness. The secret of his success as a preacher and pastor was his steadfast adherence to principle, the high moral tone of his character, and his sincere devotion to the glory of God in relation to men. A crowded and enthusiastic meeting to celebrate his jubilee was held at Shoalhaven in 1886. Now that the Venerable Dr. Grant has been laid aside from active duty, it is doubtless the fervent prayer of all his friends that in his retirement he may enjoy abundantly the blessing and support of the Great Head of the Church.”
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