[3] In September 1818 he was ordained as minister of Guthrie Parish Church, a small and remote rural charge.

It was one of the four parish churches contained within St Giles Cathedral; New North occupying the western quarter.

[3] Whilst serving St Andrews he lived at 4 Queen Street a large Georgian townhouse immediately north of the church.

Taking a substantial number of wealthy congregation members with him they built the new St Andrews Free Church a short distance westward at 80 George Street.

This was fronted by (and accessed through) the pre-existing Georgian townhouse, with the new structure (accommodating 1400) wholly contained within the rear garden).

The Drumsheugh Gardens Church (by Campbell Douglas) was demolished in turn in 1957 and is now an office block.