Claudius Buchanan’s baptism 

‘It had rained that morning and the uphill track to the church was busier and muddier than usual. Turning a corner they found the flowery valley behind the church was crowded. Villagers from Cambuslang chatted with strangers from far afield. Children played and parents gossiped. William M'Culloch had been the parish minister for 11 years. When he began to speak it was not in his dull sermon style. He spoke from the heart and touched the hearts of all his listeners.’ This is a quote from The Claudians: gardens, landscapes, reason and faith: John Claudius Loudon and Claudius Buchanan, Tom Turner (Kindle, 2024).

Date of Claud Buchanan's Baptism

The Old Parish Register is clear that 'Claud Buchanan son of Alex Buchanan' was baptised in March 1765. While it is possible that this was another son, who died, it is more likely that this was the boy who took on the name Claudius at a later date. It could be that Claud and Claudius were both used by the family and that the the minister wrote 'Claud' to save space.  But he also used the name Claud in letters home from India. 

More about William M'Culloch

William M'Culloch (1691 – 18 December 1771) became known for his role in the Cambuslang Revival of 1742. M'Culloch was born in 1691, the son of the schoolmaster at Whithorn, in Galloway. His career as a minister began when he was ordained and took up his position in the parish of Cambuslang. He was a diligent and conscientious pastor, focusing on the spiritual well-being of his parishioners through regular preaching, teaching, and pastoral care. He was known for his methodical and earnest approach to his duties, although his sermons were not initially characterised by the dramatic flair that marked the revivalist preachers of his time. M'Culloch's historical significance is tied to the Cambuslang Revival. He invited the famed evangelist George Whitefield to preach in Cambuslang. 

Arthur Fawcett commented that, 'M'Culloch would have rejoiced to see Buchanan, once held in his arms and part of the spiritual fruit of the revival days of 1742, building the kingdom of God in India and seeking to send the good news into China.' It was only in retrospect that Claudius Buchanan's baptism by William M'Culloch could be seen as a significant event in Scottish religious history.