John Cunningham (ca. 1808-1872)
James Dodson
BIOGRAPHICAL SKETCH
Born in Newtonlimavady, Ireland, ca. 1808, and migrated to Scotland early in life. He received his M.A. from Glasgow University, in 1836. He took divinity classes in Paisley, from 1834-37, and was licensed by the R.P. Presbytery of Edinburgh, on June 13, 1838. In 1839, he declined a unanimous call to the Kelso congregation, and spend 6 years as a probationer. In 1846, he was called to be a missionary to the Jews in London. There he labored for many years. As the Rev. James Reid was obliged to separate from the body of the Reformed Presbyterian Church, when it changed its terms of communion, in 1822, and afterwards changed its Testimony; so in 1859, when the practical consequences of those organic defections had become partially developed, Dr. Cunningham was constrained to leave the declining fellowship. Thus, in 1859, he demitted office and membership because of the Church’s defection regarding teaching respecting the relation of the church with the state. He did so that he might “walk by the rule of former attainments.” Thereafter, he entered into ecclesiastical fellowship with the Reformed Presbytery, in the USA. Dr. Cunningham, although not a popular speaker, was a good preacher. In natural science, in classic and modern language, he had few equals. He was “faithful unto death,” &c. and this was his best characteristic. He died April 24, 1872, aged 64, and was buried in the Necropolis, in Glasgow.
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