Dr. Welsh (Retiring Moderator of Gel' Assembly 1843) 1843 - 1847

This portrait of Dr. Welsh, the Retiring Moderator of the General Assembly, was captured in 1843 by Hill and Adamson using the calotype process, one of the earliest forms of photography. The image encapsulates a moment of transition, not just for Dr. Welsh, but for Scotland itself during a period of deep social and religious upheaval. As moderator, Welsh was a central figure in the Disruption of 1843, a schism within the Church of Scotland that led to the formation of the Free Church of Scotland. Here, he appears dignified yet weary, his gaze averted as if contemplating the weight of his decisions and their consequences. The soft, almost dreamlike quality of the calotype adds to the sense of introspection, inviting us to consider the personal toll of public life and the complexities of faith and conviction. The photograph not only documents a historical figure but evokes the emotional and spiritual landscape of a nation grappling with change.