title: James Simpson (minister)
text: # James Simpson (minister)
  
  James A. Simpson is a retired minister of the Church of Scotland. He was Moderator of the General Assembly of the Church of Scotland in 1994–95 - the first from a Highland parish since James Gunn Matheson (from Portree Parish Church on the Isle of Skye) in 1975.
  
  ## Background and career
  
  In 1976 he moved from St. John's Renfield Church, Glasgow to Dornoch Cathedral in Dornoch, Sutherland. In 1997 he demitted his charge at Dornoch to become an "Interim Minister" for several years (helping congregations to working through periods of transition). His first post as an Interim Minister was Almondbank Tibbermore Church in Perthshire. He is also known for his humorous books and regular column in the Church of Scotland's "Life and Work" magazine.
  
  His title (following the end of his Moderatorial year) is the Very Reverend Dr James Alexander Simpson BSc BD STM DD. He is currently the oldest living former Moderator of the Church of Scotland, however Hugh Wyllie is the Moderator whose time in office was earliest.
  
  