Background
Findlater was born 10 January 1754 in the manse of West Linton, Peeblesshire. Charles Findlater was Thomas Findlater"s son by his second wife, Jean, daughter of William Brown, an Edinburgh bookseller.
Findlater was born 10 January 1754 in the manse of West Linton, Peeblesshire. Charles Findlater was Thomas Findlater"s son by his second wife, Jean, daughter of William Brown, an Edinburgh bookseller.
He graduated at Edinburgh University 14 November 1770.
In 1777 he was ordained assistant to his father, and in 1790 was presented by William Douglas, 4th Duke of Queensberry to the neighbouring parish, Newlands. He lived there until 1835, and then retiring from duty, died at Glasgow 28 May 1838, aged 84. His appointment at Newlands, like his father"s at West Linton, was opposed, and led to the establishment of a seceding congregation.
A marble bust of him, funded by subscription, was in the Peebles Art Gallery.
Findlater was an unconventional liberal theologian. He established one of the first local savings banks, and used to carry its account-book when on his pastoral work.
He would sing a song at a cottar"s wedding, and on wintry Sundays gather his congregation round him in his kitchen and give them dinner afterwards.