William Robertson (urban missionary)

William Robertson (1805–1882) was a Scottish minister of the Church of Scotland and a primary promoter of the 19th century concept of ragged schools and urban missions.

[1] Robertson studied divinity at the University of Edinburgh and was licensed to preach in the Church of Scotland by the Presbytery of Chirnside in June 1828.

His first ordination was as minister of Muckhart in July 1831 but translated to Logie Kirk near Bridge of Allan after a few months, in January 1832, replacing Rev Robert Clason.

Immediately after the Disruption of 1843 he moved to Edinburgh and began a much more critical role in the overall structure of the Church of Scotland.

[3] Unlike the quiet town of either Eyemouth or Alloa, or the rural parishes of Muckhart or Logie, Robertson was immediately shocked by the widespread poverty in Edinburgh, and the high number of adults and children who attended neither school nor church.

His other great achievement (with Guthrie) was the establishing of what were called Ragged schools which began in Edinburgh in 1846 in response to the perceived poverty and lack of education pervading the lower classes.