Archibald Main

Archibald Main, (17 December 1876 – 14 March 1947) was a Scottish ecclesiastical historian, Church of Scotland minister, military chaplain, and academic. From 1915 to 1922, he was Professor of Ecclesiastical History at the University of St Andrews. From 1922 to 1942, he was Regius Professor of Ecclesiastical History at the University of Glasgow. He served as Chaplain to the King from 1925 and as Moderator of the General Assembly of the Church of Scotland from 1939 to 1940.

Early life and education Main was born on 17 December 1876 in Partick, Glasgow, Scotland. He was educated at Garnethill Public School in Glasgow. Having won the Snell Exhibition, he studied modern history and economics at Balliol College, Oxford, and graduated from the University of Oxford with a Bachelor of Arts (BA) degree in 1903. He then served as Minister of St Madoes Church, Glencarse, in the Presbytery of Perth until 1912. He officially took up the position of Moderator on 23 May, at that start of 1939 General Assembly.

Main was elected Minister of Kirkbean Church in the Presbytery of Dumfries in 1942. He retired from full-time ministry on 13 February 1946 due to ill health.

In May 1925, Main was appointed by King George V as a Chaplain-in-Ordinary to His Majesty in Scotland. He was re-appointed to that position by King Edward VIII (in 1936), and by King George VI (in 1937).

Academic career Main acted as an examiner at the University of St Andrews in political economy between 1906 and 1908, and political economy and modern history between 1912 and 1914. On 1 October 1922, he was appointed Regius Professor of Ecclesiastical History at the University of Glasgow. He was the Baird Lecturer from 1935 to 1936. He later transferred to the 7th Volunteer Battalion of the Royal Highlanders, Volunteer Force. On 8 July 1918, he was made a temporary Chaplain to the Forces 4th Class (equivalent in rank to captain) in the Army Chaplains' Department. He then served in the 9th Volunteer Battalion Royal Highlanders until the end of the war.

In July 1919, Main was made an Honorary Chaplain in recognition of his war service. While a professor at the University of Glasgow, he served as chaplain to the Glasgow University Officers' Training Corps; he stood down in 1942 when he left academia.

Honours For his service in World War I, Main was awarded two campaign medals; the British War Medal and the Victory Medal. In 1943, he was awarded an honorary Doctor of Laws (LLD) degree by the University of Glasgow.