His talent outstripped this tiny parish and in 1775 he successfully obtained the patronage of his uncle to take over as minister of St Cuthbert's Church, Edinburgh (then generally called the West Kirk).

He was first suggested as Moderator of the General Assembly in 1780, but lost to the much older Rev Harry Spens.

[3] He died at Bruntsfield Links on 9 August 1827 following a long illness (compounded by the death of his wife).

[5] His sister, Susan Moncreiff, married Rev William Paul, his counterpart in the collegiate section of St Cuthbert's.

[6] He was painted by Sir Henry Raeburn and an engraving was made by Thomson for wider use of the image.