Andrew Bonar

Bonar was born in Edinburgh in 1810 to Christian parents who attempted to raise him to love the Lord. He lost his father at eleven years of age and as a result developed a very deep bond with his older brothers that would last all of their lives. He came to know Christ at the age of twenty shortly before beginning his theological training. His first pastorate was in the little village of Collace where he ministered for 18 years. He was very instrumental in the great Revival of 1839-1840 and shortly after this time of spiritual renewal, he along with 400 other worthy pastors separated from the Established Church of Scotland to form the Free Church in the great Disruption of1843. He married in 1848 and fathered five children. Mrs. Bonar died in 1848 leaving him to raise his children alone – he never remarried. In 1856 he left his little flock in Collace and assumed the pastorate of a larger ministry in Glasgow where he would remain until his “jubilee” in 1888. He ministered with Moody in the Northfield conferences held in near Chicago when he was well into his 70's. Bonar died peacfully in his sleep on December 30, 1892 at 82 years of age.