John Geddes

(Eastern District) Born in the Enzie, April 1807, a grandnephew of Bishop Geddes; arrived in Valladolid from Aquhorties; due to ill health, left for Scotland, 9th June 1826, finished his course at Aquhorties, and ordained a priest at Blairs by Bishop Kyle, October 1829; at Perth until his death there, from tuberculosis, 8th January 1832. (MT)

The following is a report on John Geddes' situation in Perth, from the Scottish Catholic Directory of 1831, the year before his death.

Geddes is the first Catholic Clergyman who has resided in Perth since the Reformation. His congregation consists of several hundred destitute Catholics, almost exclusively Irish. In Perth there is no Catholic Chapel, nor a house for the clergyman, who is obliged to celebrate divine service in a place that is frequently converted into uses quite unbecoming the sanctity and dignity of our Religion, and into which no Catholic can enter, but with feelings of the most poignant grief, that the Living God is without a Temple where he can be adored in spirit and in truth, and that the sacredness of religion should be blasphemed and held up to ridicule, in that very place where its most holy rites are performed.

It is therefore in the name of his poor congregation, it is in the name of the sacred cause in which he is engaged, that Mr Geddes earnestly appeals to the generosity, to the Christian charity of the public, and implores them to encourage, by their liberality, the efforts of his indigent dock, who, though in the most reduced circumstances, are using their utmost exertions to have a temple erected to God, in which the rites of their Religion may be performed with becoming decency,—in which their little ones may be instructed in the maxims of the Gospel, and in which they may send up their fervent prayers for their generous benefactors. Mass is celebrated once every month for those who shall lend a helping hand to so pious and charitable an undertaking.

Subscriptions are humbly solicited, and will be most thankfully received by the R. R. Dr Paterson, Catholic Chapel, Edinburgh, and by the Rev. John Geddes, Perth.

The following is a report on John Geddes' situation in Perth, from the Scottish Catholic Directory of 1832, the year of his death.

It was only in the beginning of the year 1830, that Mr Geddes was appointed to the new Mission of Perth, and already a Chapel has been erected where the sacred mysteries of Religion may be performed with becoming decency and respect. The Chapel at Perth is a plain and substantial building, 59 feet long, 40 broad, and 25 high, within walls. But it is not as yet finished, and the contributions of the Congregation, though liberal beyond what their circumstances gave reason to anticipate, are far from being adequate for completing the building. To this may be added, that there is no house for the Clergyman, nor as yet is there any prospect of his being able to erect one.

There is perhaps no Congregation in Scotland, that is more deserving, or stands more in need of assistance, than that of Perth. Never was an appeal made to their charity in favor of any religious or pious purpose, which they did not most cheerfully answer. Several Chapels have been benefited by their willing contributions; and they trust that a liberal public will now lend to them that helping hand which they never refused to others in the hour of need, according to their means. In the course of next summer, Mr Geddes intends to collect what their charity is willing to bestow, for behoof of the pious undertaking in which he is at present engaged.

Obituary of John Geddes, from the Scottish Catholic Directory of 1833.

Died at Perth, on the 8th January, the Rev. John Geddes, Catholic Pastor of that Mission.

Mr Geddes was born in the Enzie, Banffshire, in the year 1807. At an early age he was sent to Aquhorties College to be educated for the Scotch Mission. Having spent a short time in that seminary, he went to the Scotch College of Valladolid to prosecute his studies. But his declining health having obliged him to return home, before he had completed his education, in a few months he so far recovered as to be enabled to go through the usual course preparatory to his entering into holy orders; and having previously obtained from Rome a dispensation of age, he was ordained priest at Blairs, by the Right Rev. Dr Kyle, in the latter end of October 1829., Early in the year 1830, he was appointed by the late Bishop Paterson to establish a new mission at Perth. He was the first Catholic clergyman that was permanently stationed in that town since the Reformation. When Mr Geddes entered upon' the charge of that infant mission he laboured under great disadvantages, and bad to struggle with many difficulties. There was neither chapel, nor residence for the clergyman. Yet so far were these trying circumstances from daunting his spirit, that they roused him up to noble exertions, and to the display of that vigour and energy of mind, which he would have exhibited in full view had the thread of his life been prolonged. In the summer of 1831, the foundation of an elegant new Chapel was laid, and the building advanced so rapidly, that in a few months he had the satisfaction of seeing it roofed in. But his frame enfeebled by a lingering illness, and his anxiety to see his praiseworthy efforts crowned with success, soon rendered him unequal to the arduous task he had undertaken. For a long time he had suffered from the rapid advances of consumption, and this malady had so undermined his constitution, that he was cut off, even before he himself seemed to be aware of his danger. He was found dead in his bed on the morning of Sunday the 8th of January.

Thus, died at the early age of 24, and almost on his very entrance upon the clerical career, this excellent clergyman. In him the congregation of Perth, lost a zealous pastor, and the church a valuable missionary. His talents were more than ordinary, and his attainments not inconsiderable. The uniform gentleness of his disposition, the humility, candour, and Christian simplicity that breathed in his manners, and throughout his whole conduct, endeared him to all who knew him. The moderation of his character, and the steady attention and exactness with which he discharged, at bis first outset in life, the functions of a zealous pastor of souls, gave every reason to anticipate that his future career would have been no less beneficial to others, than creditable to himself. His warm and unaffected piety, his habits of retirement and seclusion from the world, and his scrupulous punctuality in the performance of all the duties of a true Christian, afford the consoling hope that his death, though awfully sudden and premature, was not unprovided.

Mr Geddes was grand-nephew to Bishop Geddes who was Bishop Hay’ first coadjutor. By his death the building of the Chapel of Perth was interrupted for some months. In the meantime the congregation was occasionally attended by the Rev. Alex. Macdonald from Crieff. It was not, however, till the appointment of the Rev. James M‘Kay for that mission, in June, that the part of the work which remained unfinished was resumed and completed. R. I. P.