He took a deep interest in bible circulation, home and foreign missions, and other religious movements.

[2] On a vacancy occurring in Great Hamilton Street, Glasgow he was elected on 5 March 1839, although there was a considerable feeling in the Church against "transportations", and a minority was opposed to him on that account.

He had already been twice chosen for West Campbell Street in the same city but the Synod had refused to present one call and he had declined the other.

When the Disruption came Symington sympathised largely with the movement and walked in the historical procession from St. Andrew's Church to Cannonmills.

When people wondered why Symington did not then join the Free Church, he said, "With a great sum they purchased their freedom, but I was free-born.

[2] They had the following children - Symington's contributions to literature included a number of fugitive pieces which he published while in Stranraer, but his chief works are The Atonement and Intercession of Jesus Christ, Edin., 1834, and Messiah the Prince, Edin., 1839.