Aberdeen Press and Journal, Monday July 16th, 1923.
MEMORIAL WINDOW UNVEILED
Impressive service in Ballater Church.
In the presence of a large congregation in Glenmuick Parish Church, Ballater, on Sunday forenoon, there was unveiled a beautiful stained glass window by the Very Rev. Dr M’Clymont, C.B.E., ex-Moderator of the Church of Scotland.
One of the panels represents Christ blessing little children, and the other Christ carrying lambs, and bearing the inscription:–
“to the Glory of God in
affectionate remembrance of Rev. William Middleton M.A., Chaplain of the Church
of Scotland in Karachi, India, who died in Hyderabad, Scinde, on the 26th
November 1871; his wife, Jessie Middleton, who died in Aberdeen on 20th
November 1899; and their only daughter, Alice Mary, for some years secretary of
the Overseas Nursing Association, who died in London, on 30th
October, 1920. Blessed are the dead that lie in the Lord.”
The inscription is on a brass tablet sunk into the wall underneath the window, which was the gift of their son and brother, Dr William Colvin Middleton, M.A., M.D., D.P.H., for 27 years medical officer of health at Singapore, who had an hospital erected and called by his name in appreciation of his public services and his personal worth. He died at Bexhill on 8th December 1921, aged 58 years.
Dr
M‘Clymont’s Address.
The Rev. J. R. Middleton, minister of the parish, officiated and was assisted by the Rev. Alexander Middleton, minister of Garden [? word not readable on photocopy] Memorial Parish Church, Brechin. The Very Rev. Dr M‘Clymont preached from Philippians III., 13th and 14th verses, and in his dedication address said that they had the privilege of taking part in the commemoration of several members of a well known and highly-respected family, which had been connected with the parish and presbytery for well-nigh three-quarter of a century. There must have been many present who had pleasant recollections, as he had, of the distinguished and venerable member of the family who was for 35 years minister of the parish.
He (Dr M‘Clymont) enjoyed the privilege of his friendship, as he had done that of his son and successor, who nobly sustained the honourable traditions of the family during a ministry, which had already extended to a period of nearly 40 years.
Their former minister, the Rev. John Middleton, was the eldest of three members of a numerous family, who became ministers of the Church of Scotland. The other two were the Rev. Gerard Middleton, who became minister of Monzie, Fife, after being at the Scots Church, Colombo; and the Rev. William Middleton, whom they were commemorating. The latter was schoolmaster of Cluny, and after being licensed went to Karachi. That memorial window was the pious gift of their son, Dr Middleton, and might he (Dr M‘Clymont) congratulate them as a congregation on receiving such a valuable and acceptable gift.
The praise was appropriate and impressive, and was led by Mr. J. I. Wright, organist.
In the Congregation.
In the congregation were:–
Mrs
W. R. C. Middleton, Bexhill, widow of the donor of the window: Mrs and Miss
Middleton, wife and daughter of the Rev. Gerard Middleton, Fife; Mr. William
Middleton, Fettercairn, brother of the Rev. Alexander Middleton, Brechin; the
Marquis of Aberdeen and Temair; Mr. And Mrs P. North Moore, St Louis, U.S.A.;
Miss E. Zimmern, London; Dr A. Salomon, Berlin, members of the international
council of women; Mr. D. M. M. Milligan of Findrack, representing Lord
Glentanar and Major Sir Victor Mackenzie, Bt., D.S.O.
Details
of some people mentioned in the above article.
John Middleton b. circa 1787 Birse, Farmer Midstrath, m. 13 Sep 1817, in Birse, Mary Harper, b. circa 1787-99, d 26 Dec 1838. John died 26 Dec 1838.
Children
1. ii Hugh Middleton b. 20 Nov 1819 Birse d. 2 Dec 1880 Fettercairn
2. iv Rev John Middleton b.
Apr 1823 Birse d. 7 May 1881
Glenmuick
3. viii Rev. William Middleton b.
26 Jan 1832 Birse d. 26 Nov 1871 India
4. x Rev Gerard Middleton b.
10 Sep 1837 Birse d. 24 Dec 1880 Moonzie
Next generation.
1. Hugh
Middleton, Farmer Midstrath and Balnakettle, m. 14 Dec 1855, in Kincardine
O’Neil, Margaret Lyall, b. 1 Aug 1923, Birse.
Children
i. John Middleton b. 17 Nov 1856, Midstrath, Birse,
d.
17 Aug 1879, Fettercairn
ii. Rev Alexander (Sandy)
Middleton b. 26 Sep 1858 Midstrath, Birse,
d.
8 Nov 1942 place unknown.
iii William Middleton b. 6 May 1860 Midstrath, Birse,
d.
15 May 1944 Balnakettle, Fettercairn
iv. David Middleton b. . 27 Dec 1862
Midstrath, Birse,
d.
1931
v. Hugh Middleton b. 27 Dec 1862 Midstrath,
Birse,
d.
6 Dec 1944, New Zealand
2. Rev John Middleton, Glenmuick, m. 1 Apr 1850, in Glenmuick, Isabella Walker
Children
iv
Rev James Robert Middleton b. 23 Jan 1860 Glenmuick d.
3. Rev William Middleton, India, m. 16 Jul 1861, in Banchory-Ternan, Jessie Middleton
Children
i Dr William Robert Colvin Middleton b.
1863, India d. 8 Dec 1921, Bexhill.
iii Alice Mary Middleton b. 1866 India d.
30 Oct 1920, London
Note: From the Department of Infectious Diseases,
Singapore. “The
Communicable Disease Centre (CDC) is one of the oldest hospitals in Singapore.
Named Middleton Hospital, it was established in 1907 as a quarantine camp for
the isolation, investigation and treatment of patients with dangerous
infectious diseases including smallpox, plague and cholera. With the declining
incidence of smallpox, cholera and plague, other infectious diseases were also
admitted to the hospital. The most important of these were diphtheria, typhoid,
poliomyelitis and dysentery. Many of these infectious have since been
adequately controlled with Singapore's comprehensive childhood immunisation programme,
improved hygiene and public health.”
Newspaper and date unknown – circa 1935.
FAITH, COURAGE, PATIENCE.
_________________________
Dr. Hetherwick’s Tribute to Ballater
Minister.
A communion service was conducted in Ballater South Church by the Rev. John Howat and the Rev. Dr. Hetherwick, Moderator of the Presbytery of Aberdeen, preached the sermon at the memorial service of the Rev. James R. Middleton, minister emeritus of Glenmuick. There was a large congregation.
Dr. Hetherwick, whose text was St Matthew, xxvi., 29, said that he had been asked to preach because he was one of Mr. Middleton’s oldest friends.
Group of
Students.
We were at the University together more than fifty years ago, he said. We were both of us members of a group of students studying at the University, associated together by our membership in the West Church of St. Nicholas, Aberdeen, and all of us looking forward to a life in the Church of Scotland.
From among us you chose James Middleton to be your minister here. You had known him all his life. Born in the Manse, here he had grown up among you, and you chose him to succeed his father in the ministry in this church. You knew his home in the Manse, and you knew that in the associations of the Manse there was to be found everything that would bespeak in him a faithful ministry.
Dr. Hetherwick referred to Mr. Middleton’s faithful; pastorate of forty-five years, and the leading place he took in public institutions and interests–carried on amid many interruptions and much weakness of body.
Yet, he continued, in the grace and aspirations of his spiritual service he fulfilled a memorable and worthy ministry among you. On the few occasions I met him–few on account of my absence from this country–I could not but admire and marvel at the faith and patience with which he carried on, and the brave heart he always bore.
Memorable
Ministry.
That faith and patience must have many a time preached a sermon to you, as it did to me on the occasions of our infrequent meetings, and thus fulfilled in him a very memorable ministry among you. To myself and to his fellow-students who with him entered the ministry the name of James Middleton was always associated with faith and courage and patience.
He had the leisure of a quiet eventide, and the joy of seeing his work pass into the hands of faithful successors in the ministry here. That means much to a worker when he lays down his task. These last years must have been a comfort and a quite happiness to him.
He leaves you with his friends and with the Church that record and the memory of a faithful ministry and of a beloved friend. In such a life’s ministry ending in such peace there is no room for sorrow, only for thankfulness to God for the work done, and the rest well earned.
Newspaper and date unknown – circa 1968.
Wish Came True 24
Years After Death
A Waverley farmer’s wish to provide a stained-glass window in a Scottish church is to come true – 24 years after his death.
Mr Hugh Middleton, who died in 1944, provided money in his will for a stained-glass window to be installed in a panel at Birse Church, Aboyne, Aberdeenshire.
His will stated the window should be installed in memory of his uncles, John, William, and Gerard, his brother Alexander and cousin James who were all ministers in Scotland.
Mr Middleton came to New Zealand in 1888 [correct year is 1886] at the age of 24 [correct age 23]. He farmed in the Wanganui district and finally settled in Waverley at the turn of the century, where he stayed till his death. He is buried in the Waverley cemetery.
His family, hearing the news today, had thought the window had been installed 24 years ago. Further investigations, however revealed a flaw in the will had caused the delay. Mr Middleton said his wish had to be approved by the relatives of those he wished to perpetuate and failed to give their addresses. The minister of the Birse Church has only just located them and got their permission.
The end of the quest was reported today by the N.Z.P.A.’s correspondent in Glasgow.
Two of Mr Middleton’s sons live in Waverley, two in Wellington, and he has a daughter in Wanganui.
Hawera Star, New Zealand – Friday June 30th 1972.
Church Window
Dedicated After 25 Years
Twenty-five years [actually 27 years] after a Waverley man, Mr. Hugh Middleton, bequeathed a sum of money for a memorial window in his former church at Birse, near Aboyne, Scotland, the window has been dedicated.
In memory of five members of the Middleton family who were ministers, the window was unveiled earlier this month by Miss Margaret Middleton, Fettercairn.
Hugh Middleton was the youngest member of a large family
raised on the farm Midstrath, Ballogie [should read “born on”]. He was the
younger and weaker of twins. Because of his poor health he came out to New
Zealand to live and settled in Waverley.
However he had outlived all his brothers and sisters when he died in 1947 [correct year: 1944]. His will and legacy were sent to the kirk session in Birse. He left 100 pounds for the memorial window.
The minister at the time, the Rev. Arnold Kemp, retired the following year and died in 1949. He had made a start in tracing relatives but the money was then invested and forgotten.
In 1963 when the Rev. John A. Paterson went to Birse, a full search through the records was made.
Relatives were traced in New Zealand, Mr. Middleton had four sons and a daughter, and at Fettercairn. Agreement was reached between them and an Edinburgh artist, Mr John Blyth, was engaged to make the window.
The legacy by this time had increased to 400 pounds.
It took nearly 10 years to complete the window, which is a
memorial to Mr Middleton's three brothers and two nephews. [Should read: “three
uncles, brother, and cousin”.]
They are brothers John Middleton, Glenmuick Church, Ballater; William Middleton, Scots Kirk, Karachi, India; Gerard Middleton, a chaplain in Ceylon and later Minister of Moonzie, Fife; John’s son James Robert, who followed his father in Glenmuick and ministered for nearly 50 years, and Alexander, son of another brother who was a farmer, and assistant at the Barony, Glasgow, and later of Garden Memorial Church, Brechin.
The window in blue, red, purple and gold stained glass was dedicated by Mr. Patterson in the presence of 30 members of the Middleton family and a large congregation.
Note: Miss Margaret Middleton, Fettercairn, is probably Margaret Lyall Middleton, daughter of William Middleton of Balnakettle, Fettercairn, b. 1894, d 18 Feb 1974.
Alexander (Sandy) Middleton (1858-1942)
Attached below is an extract from the 1899 book The History of Fettercairn by Archibald Cowie Cameron A.M. LLD., late schoolmaster of Fettercairn, who devoted a chapter of his book to the Middletons of Fettercairn.
Archibald Cowie Cameron has left us a little puzzle. His fifth daughter, his sixth child, was c. Mary Middleton Cameron on 3 June 1862 but there is no obvious reason why he chose Middleton for a second name for this daughter. Perhaps she has a Middleton ancestor somewhere.
Iain Middleton
Part Sixth.
_______
NOTEWORTHY FAMILIES AND PERSONS
- MISCELLANEOUS.
_______
235
Eminent Men (of the Present).
Chapter XXXII.
EMINENT MEN (OF THE PRESENT).
241
Eminent Men (of the Present). 241
{Part Page 241}
The Rev. Alexander Middleton, A.M., B.D., minister of St. Margaret’s Church and Parish, Arbroath, was born in the Parish of Birse, and removed to Fettercairn in 1863, when his father, the late Hugh Middleton, entered upon the farm of Balnakettle. He received his early education at the Parish School and the Grammar School of Aberdeen, entered the University of that city in 1876, and graduated with distinction in 1880. After attending the Divinity Classes for a year in Aberdeen, and thereafter in Edinburgh, he obtained the degree of B.D., received licence in 1884 from the Presbytery of Fordoun and was appointed Assistant to the Rev. Dr. Marshall Lang, in the Barony Church, Glasgow. In 1892 he was ordained to his present charge.
Sandy and Dulcie Middleton of Woodleigh, Waverley, New Zealand, kindly supplied copies of the newspaper cuttings.
Iain Middleton, New Zealand, compiled this document, 7 March 2003.