 He studied for the ministry and in 1793 became minister to the parish of Ecclesmachan, Linlithgowshire, and was clerk of its presbytery and in 1820 he became conjunct clerk of the synod of Lothian and Tweeddale.Liston died suddenly on 24 February 1836 at Merchison Hall, Falkirk.Liston invented a special pipe organ he called the "Euharmonic Organ."