Robert C Johnstone

Robert Cuthbert Johnstone and his family were recorded at No. 2 in the census of 1881, when he was chaplain at Holy Trinity, Episcopal church. He was born 20 December 1857, at Mintlaw, Aberdeenshire, son of Robert Johnstone and Sophia Wilson. He attended Edinburgh Theological College, and was ordained in 1880. In 1882 he became chaplain at St Paul’s in York Place, Edinburgh, before moving to Drumlithie the following year where he remained until 1890. After periods at Drumtochty Castle and St Andrew’s, Glasgow, he emigrated in 1895 to Canada to become incumbent at St Paul’s Middle Church, Manitoba. He was awarded an honorary doctorate by the University of Manitoba in 1912. He was reference librarian at the Winnipeg Public Library from 1914 to 1924; lectured at St. John’s College from 1919 to 1927, and became vicar of St. Aidan’s Church in 1931. He died at Winnipeg on 22 August 1934.

Robert C Johnstone was author of the Children’s Service Book (1878), and Why I became an Episcopalian (1894). As “Alan Gray” he published a number of books, including The White Rose of Darvel (a historical novel, 1916) and two volumes of memoirs, The Gentle Persuasion (1918) and Memories (1923).

He married Anne Cowper Farquhar (1853-1929), who was born at Old Deer. They had four sons, one of them, Boyes Johnstone (born 1880), recorded at No. 2 Malta Terrace in 1881.

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