William Bruce (minister)

William Bruce (1757–1841) was an Irish Presbyterian minister and educator.

The second son of Samuel Bruce, Presbyterian minister and grandson of Michael Bruce, of Wood Street, Dublin, and Rose Rainey of Magherafelt, County Londonderry, he was born in Dublin on 30 July 1757. He entered Trinity College, Dublin, in 1771. In 1775 he obtained a scholarship, and graduated A.B., supporting himself by private tuition. In 1776 he went to Glasgow for a session, and in 1777 to Warrington Academy for two years.

Bruce's first settlement was at Lisburn, and he was ordained on 4 November 1779 by the Bangor presbytery. His father's old congregation at Strand Street, Dublin, then called him on 24 March 1782 as colleague to John Moody, D.D., on the death of Thomas Plunket. He took part in the volunteer movement of 1782, serving in the ranks, but declined a command. At the national convention which met in November 1783, in the Rotunda at Dublin, he sat as delegate for Carrickfergus, and was the last surviving member of this convention. In 1786 he received the degree of D.D. from Glasgow University. His Dublin congregation increased when on 25 or 29 March 1787, the Cooke Street congregation, with its ex-minister, William Dunne, D.D., joined it.

In October 1789 Bruce was called to the First Belfast congregation, as colleague to James Crombie. He did not accept this call, but on Crombie's death he was again called (11 March 1790) to First Belfast, and at the same time elected Principal of Belfast Academy. His Dublin congregation released him on 18 March.

In the extra-synodical Antrim presbytery, to which his congregation belonged, Bruce became influential. His congregation increased and included leading families of Belfast, increased. He drew up for his congregation a hymn-book in 1801 (enlarged 1818), but while he paid attention to congregational singing he resisted, in 1807, the introduction of an organ. He broke the custom of silent Presbyterian interments by allowing addresses at the grave.

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